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GEORGE  WASHINGTON  AS  A MASON 

Photographed  by  Mishkin,  New  York,  from  an 
Engraving  by  O’Neill,  published  more  than  fifty 
years  ago  after  William’s  portrait  made  of  Pres- 
ident Washington  at  62,  for  Alexandria  Lodge. 


The 

MASONS  AS  MAKERS 
of  AMERICA 

The  True  Story  of  the 
American  Revolution 

BY 

MADISON  C.  PETERS 


TROWEL  PUBLICATIONS 

BOX  135 

YONKERS  - NEW  YORK 


H'S  SZ  3, 

. Pi- 


Copyright  1917 
by 

MADISON  C.  PETERS 


Reedited  1921, 
by 

LOUIS  H.  PEROCHEAU 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

BOSTON  COLLEGE  LjldKAKx 

MMmUX  HILL,  MASS. 

OCT  3 1961 


315624 


PREFACE 


This  book  in  its  fourth  revised  edition  is  still 
incomplete.  It  is  the  publisher’s  desire  to  carry  on 
the  work  of  the  late  Rev.  Madison  C.  Peters.  With 
that  end  in  view  criticisms,  corrections,  suggestions 
and  additional  information  are  invited  for  later 
editions.  Particular  care  has  been  taken  not  to 
overstate  the  facts.  All  statements  are  made  in 
good  faith,  based  upon  the  best  information  avail- 
able by  wide  reading,  voluminous  correspondence, 
and  research  among  the  oldest  records  of  Masonic 
labors  in  America. 


Trowel  Publications. 


CHAPTER  I 


WASHINGTON,  THE  MAN  AND  THE 
MASON 

On  June  5,  1730,  Daniel  Coxe,  of  New  Jersey, 
was  appointed  Provincial  Grand  Master  of  “the 
provinces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
vania,” by  His  Grace,  Thomas,  Duke  of  Norfolk, 
Grand  Master  of  the  Premier  Grand  Lodge  of 
England. 

The  family  name  of  the  Dukes  of  Norfolk  is 
Howard,  and  all  of  them,  from  1483  to  the  present 
day,  have  been  staunch  Roman  Catholics  and  it  is 
interesting  to  note  that  a Roman  Catholic  granted 
the  first  authority  to  warrant  Masonic  Lodges  in 
America. 

The  famous  Bull  of  excommunication  issued  by 
Pope  Clement  XII  against  Masonry  dates  from 
j738. 

On  April  30,  1733,  Lord  Viscount  Montague 
issued  a like  deputation  to  Henry  Price  of  Boston, 
appointing  him  “Provincial  Grand  Master  of  the 
Province  of  New  England,  the  dominion  and  ter- 
ritories thereto  belonging.” 

On  July  30,  1733,  St.  John’s  Lodge  was  instituted 
at  the  Bunch  of  Grapes  Tavern  in  King  (now  State) 
Street,  Boston,  and  claims  to  be  the  first  Masonic 
Lodge  organized  in  America. 

History  is  obscure  as  to  the  part  Coxe  took  in 
establishing  our  Fraternity;  but  there  is  a complete 


2 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


record  of  the  acts  of  Price.  Hence  Massachusetts 
was  acknowledged  the  “mother  jurisdiction”  for 
nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  years.  However, 
documents  now  in  the  archives  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Pennsylvania  appear  to  give  the  primacy  to  the 
Keystone  State,  in  support  of  which  latter  conten- 
tion evidence  is  produced  to  show  that  on  January 
29,  1731,  Coxe  visited  the  Grand  Lodge  at  London, 
and  that  a toast  was  drunk  in  his  honor  as  “Pro- 
vincial Grand  Master  of  North  America.” 

According  to  the  Pennsylvania  Gazette , from 
1732  and  for  several  years  thereafter,  a list  of  the 
Grand  officers  was  regularly  printed. 

Previous  to  the  French  and  Indian  War  all 
American  Lodges  worked  the  ritual  and  acknowl- 
edged the  authority  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  England 
only;  but  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  lodges 
holding  warrants  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Scot- 
land, Ireland  and  the  Ancients  of  London  were 
working  in  America.  The  rival  Grand  Lodges  in 
England,  together  with  those  of  Ireland  and  Scot- 
land, chartered  Lodges  everywhere  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  until  regular  governing  bodies 
existed  in  every  State,  province  and  territory. 

Washington's  birth  was  contemporaneous  with 
the  introduction  of  Warranted  Lodges  in  America. 
In  1734  Price's  authority  was  extended  and  regular 
warrants  were  granted  to  Lodges  as  far  South  as 
Charleston;  so  that  while  Washington  was  still  in 
his  swaddling  clothes,  the  star  of  American 
Masonry  which  arose  in  the  East,  may  be  said  to 
have  rested  over  the  place  where  the  young  child  lay. 

Before  Washington  attained  manhood,  a Lodge 
had  been  organized  in  Fredericksburg,  Virginia, 
and  to  it  on  November  4,  1752,  he  sought  and  ob- 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  3 

tained  admission.  That  he  paid  the  customary  fee 
is  shown  by  the  record:  “Received  from  Mr.  George 
Washington,  the  sum  of  £2  and  3s.” 

Washington  was  initiated  three  months  before  he 
was  twenty-one.  According  to  the  conventional  rule 
in  English  Lodges  he  was  supposed  to  be  more  than 
twenty-one  years  of  age  at  the  time;  however  the 
question  was  not  asked  and  he  may  not  have  known 
the  regulations.  He  was  passed  to  the  degree  of 
Fellowcraft  March  5,  1753,  and  raised  to  the 
Sublime  Degree  of  Master  Mason,  August  4,  1 753- 

The  records  and  seal  of  the  Lodge  are  still  pre- 
served, also  the  Bible  printed  in  1688,  on  which  he 
was  obligated. 

A year  later  Washington  was  sent  by  the  Gov- 
ernor of  Virginia  to  the  French  military  post  in 
Ohio  to  demand  in  the  Governor’s  name  that  they 
depart  at  once  and  cease  to  intrude  on  English 
domain.  It  was  a hazardous  undertaking  in  mid- 
winter— encountering  the  hostilities  of  the  Indians 
and  French,  sufficient  to  try  the  fortitude  of  the 
boldest  adventurer. 

It  has  been  claimed  that  Washington  was  made 
a Mason  during  the  French  and  Indian  War  in 
a British  military  lodge,  holding  a warrant  from 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ireland,  granted  in  1752. 

This  Lodge,  held  in  the  46th  British  Regiment, 
still  exists  in  Canada  as  the  “Lodge  of  Antiquity” ; 
it  claims  to  have  the  Bible  on  which  Washington 
was  obligated  as  a Mason. 

If  Washington  held  intercourse  with  this  Lodge, 
it  must  have  been  during  his  visits  to  Philadelphia, 
New  York  and  Boston  in  1756,  as  he  had  been 
made  a Mason  more  than  three  years  before  in 
the  Lodge  at  Fredericksburg;  and  if  he  was  obli- 


4 MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

gated  on  the  Bible  of  the  British  Lodge,  it  must 
have  been  an  obligation  given  as  a test  oath  to  him 
as  a visiting  brother.  Again  it  is  possible  that  the 
Canadian  Lodge  may  have  denied,  as  insufficient, 
the  authority  under  which  he  had  been  made  a 
Mason  and  required  him  to  be  re-obligated  so  as  to 
entitle  him  to  the  privilege  of  Masonic  intercourse 
with  a Lodge  under  a warrant  from  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Ireland. 

Tradition  has  it  that  Washington  and  his  brothers 
of  the  Mystic  Tie  held  military  Lodges  during  the 
French  and  Indian  War  in  a cave  near  Winchester, 
Virginia,  where  Washington  had  his  headquarters. 
To  this  day  the  cave  is  called  Washington’s  Masonic 
Cave.  It  is  divided  into  several  apartments,  one 
called  the  Lodge  Room  where  it  is  claimed  com- 
munications were  held. 

Having  served  with  distinction  through  the 
French  and  Indian  War,  Colonel  Washington  re- 
tired honorably  from  the  army  of  Virginia  and 
became  a private  citizen  at  Mount  Vernon.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  half-brother,  Lawrence,  he  had 
come  into  possession  of  that  estate — so  named  in 
honor  of  a British  naval  officer. 

In  1758  Washington’s  Lodge  in  Fredericksburg 
relinquished  its  authority  from  the  Provincial 
Grand  Master  of  Massachusetts  and  obtained  a 
warrant  from  Scotland. 

In  the  same  year  Washington  entered  the  Colonial 
Assembly.  He  was  complimented  with  a vote  of 
thanks  for  his  military  services  and  when  he  arose 
to  acknowledge  the  honor  and  thank  the  Assembly, 
he  blushed  in  confusion  and  stuttered  and  stam- 
mered so  that  he  was  unable  to  say  one  word  dis- 
tinctly. The  Speaker  relieved  him  of  his  embar- 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  5 

rassing  position,  saying  with  a smile:  “Sit  down, 
Mr.  Washington,  your  modesty  is  equal  to  your 
valor  and  that  surpasses  the  power  of  any  language 
I possess.” 

When  Washington  sought  and  obtained  admis- 
sion into  Masonry  he  became  a part  of  an  organiza- 
tion in  which  the  American  ideal  of  government 
was  realized  so  far  as  it  is  possible  for  mankind 
to  realize  a lofty  ideal.  Conscientious  observance 
of  Masonry’s  practical  obligations  on  the  part  of 
those  who  accept  their  responsibilities,  tends  to  de- 
velop a finer  and  higher  type  of  American  citi- 
zen. 

There  are  several  records  of  Washington  having 
visited  Masonic  Lodges  during  the  Revolutionary 
War. 

During  the  siege  of  Boston  the  American  Union 
Lodge,  the  first  military  Lodge  in  the  Continental 
Army,  was  organized.  Washington,  while  at  Cam- 
bridge, is  reputed  to  have  visited  this  Lodge,  of 
which  an  orderly-sergeant  was  Master. 

The  number  of  military  Lodges  rose  to  ten  dur- 
ing the  Revolution;  one  warranted  by  New  York, 
two  by  Massachusetts  and  seven  by  Pennsylvania. 

The  tradition  is  well  established  that  during  the 
most  trying  periods  of  the  Revolution,  notably  at 
Valley  Forge,  Washington  found  time  to  foregather 
in  Lodge  on  the  level  with  his  Masonic  brethren. 

Following  the  evacuation  of  Philadelphia  by  the 
British,  Washington,  while  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  Continental  Army,  made  a public  profession 
of  Freemasonry  by  accepting  the  invitation  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania  to  join  in  its  cele- 
bration of  the  Feast  of  St.  John  the  Evangelist.  He 
led  a procession  in  which  more  than  three  hundred 


6 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


brethren  joined,  walking  from  the  College  on  Arch 
Street  to  Christ  Church. 

Records  show  that  Washington  visited  a Lodge 
at  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  on  December  22,  1779, 
and  at  Nelson’s  Point-on-the-Hudson,  June  24, 
1782.  He  was  also  a visitor  at  Solomon’s  Lodge, 
No.  6,  at  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  on  September 
22,  1782. 

Washington  was  made  honorary  member  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Pennsylvania  on  June  24,  1784, 
and  of  Holland  Lodge,  No.  8,  New  York,  in 
March,  1789. 

On  April  30,  1789,  while  Master  of  his  Lodge, 
Washington  was  inaugurated  President  of  the 
United  States — the  only  instance  where  one  of  the 
fifteen  Presidents  who  are  known  to  have  been 
Masons,  was  a Master  during  his  term  of  office. 

That  Washington  was  a Mason  is  further 
established  by  the  old  Charter  under  which  Alex- 
andria Lodge  still  exercises  its  Masonic  authority. 
After  the  necessary  preamble  the  instrument  de- 
clares, “Know  ye  that  we,  Edmund  Randolph, 
Esq.,  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  aforesaid 
and  Grand  Master  of  the  Most  Ancient  and  Honor- 
able Society  of  Free  Masons  within  the  same,  by 
and  with  the  consent  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Virginia, 
do  hereby  constitute  and  appoint  our  illustrious  and 
well-beloved  brother,  George  Washington,  late  Gen- 
eral and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  forces  of  the 
United  States  of  America,  charter  Master.” 

The  most  distinguished  Lodge  in  America  is  that 
at  Alexandria,  Virginia,  the  members  of  which, 
as  Master  Masons,  participated  with  Washington, 
in  laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia, also  the  Capitol  of  the  United  States.  In  spite 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  7 

of  the  deplorable  losses  by  fire  of  the  bier  on  which 
Washington  was  borne  to  his  tomb,  the  crape  that 
draped  the  door  of  Mount  Vernon  where  his  body 
lay  in  state,  his  military  saddle;  the  flag  of  his 
guard,  the  flag  which  floated  over  the  Bon  Homme 
Richard  when  she  went  to  her  death  grapple  with 
the  Serapis  and  which  John  Paul  Jones,  a Mason, 
gave  to  the  Lodge,  it  still  possesses,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Mount  Vernon,  the  largest  collection  of 
personal  relics  of  Washington  in  existence.  The 
most  valuable  among  them  are  Williams’  pastel  por- 
trait of  Washington  in  Masonic  regalia,  for  which 
Washington  sat  at  the  age  of  sixty-two;  for  this 
portrait  the  Lodge  has  refused  $100,000;  Washing- 
ton’s Masonic  apron  and  sash  of  silk,  embroidered 
by  the  wife  of  Lafayette  and  presented  for  her,  with 
a rare  little  box  of  inlay,  to  Washington  by 
Lafayette  when  he  visited  his  old  comrade-in-arms 
in  1784. 

The  Masons  of  America  are  now  planning  the 
erection  of  a suitable  memorial  at  the  place  of 
Washington’s  Masonic  home.  To  take  pride  in  and 
commemorate  the  deeds  and  accomplishments  of  our 
ancestors  by  transmitting  to  posterity  tangible  evi- 
dence of  historical  facts  which  might  otherwise 
vanish  in  oblivion,  is  to  honor,  not  only  them,  but 
ourselves  as  well. 

When  Washington  died  at  Mount  Vernon,  De- 
cember 14,  1799,  three  physicians,  all  Masons,  were 
in  attendance.  One  of  them  Doctor  Dick,  who  was 
Master  of  Washington’s  own  Lodge,  presided  at 
its  meeting  when  the  details  of  the  funeral  were 
arranged.  Masonic  services  on  that  occasion  were 
performed  by  the  Worshipful  Master  assisted  by 
the  Chaplain.  Seventy-nine  members  of  the  Lodge 


8 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


marched  in  the  funeral  procession  on  that  bitter 
winter  day  when  their  distinguished  brother  was 
laid  to  rest  in  his  tomb  at  Mount  Vernon. 


CHAPTER  II 

MASONS  IN  THE  CONTINENTAL 
CONGRESS 

That  the  leaders  in  the  great  work  of  launching 
the  new  nation  were  the  foremost  men  in  the 
Masonic  Fraternity  is  an  established  fact. 

The  greatest  leader  in  the  revolt  from  England 
was  Samuel  Adams,  a Mason,  popularly  referred 
to  as  the  “Father  of  the  American  Revolution.”  It 
was  he  who  first  clearly  foresaw  the  conflict  and 
in  the  days  before  1775  determined  its  character 
and  directed  its  course.  At  his  suggestion  the  first 
Congress  was  called  at  New  York,  thus  preparing 
the  way  for  a Continental  Congress  ten  years  later 
and  subsequently  for  the  union  and  confederacy  of 
the  colonies. 

James  Otis,  whose  pamphlets  were  the  most 
effective  presentations  of  the  arguments  against  the 
arbitrary  measures  of  the  British  ministry  and  who, 
from  1761  to  1769,  was  the  pre-eminent  leader  of 
thought  in  the  discussion  and  development  of  opin- 
ion which  preceded  the  war,  hailed  from  Barnstable 
Lodge. 

Patrick  Henry,  whose  eloquence,  unrivaled  in 
its  persuasive  power,  furnished  so  potent  an  influ- 
ence in  the  contest  for  freedom,  was  a Mason.  It  is 
also  interesting  to  note  that  he  subsequently  became 
the  first  Republican  Governor  of  Virginia. 

Paul  Revere,  whose  mid-night  ride  and  cry  of 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  9 

alarm  caused  the  Middlesex  farmers  to  prepare  for 
the  Battle  of  Lexington — the  first  conflict  of  the 
war  for  Independence — was  at  one  time  Grand 
Master  of  Masons  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 

William  Daw,  another  Mason,  selected  by  the 
Master  of  his  Lodge,  General  Joseph  Warren,  per- 
formed similar  service  across  the  country  from 
Roxbury. 

Robert  Newman,  the  patriot  who  hung  the  signal 
lantern  in  the  old  North  Church  tower,  April  18, 
1 775,  was  a Masonic  brother. 

The  preliminary  meeting  of  the  Boston  Tea  Party 
was  held  around  a chowder  supper  at  the  home  of 
Masons — the  Bradlee  brothers  on  Hollis  and  Tre- 
mont  Streets.  The  mother  of  that  party  was  Sarah 
Bradlee  who  arranged  the  disguises  the  day  before 
and  assisted  the  men  upon  their  return  from  Griffin’s 
Wharf  in  washing  off  the  red  stains  and  reverting 
to  “white  Christians.” 

The  object  of  the  Boston  patriots  was  not  merely 
to  commit  the  Colony  to  open  disobedience  of 
despotic  orders,  but  to  have  a real  issue  upon  which 
to  unite  with  the  other  colonies  in  their  struggle  to 
free  themselves  from  an  oppressive  rule. 

On  that  historic  night,  December  16,  1773,  seven 
thousand  persons  gathered  in  and  about  Old  South 
Church  listening  to  such  Masonic  orators  as  Samuel 
Adams,  Joseph  Warren,  Josiah  Quincy  and  several 
other  leaders.  This  meeting  unanimously  resolved 
that  the  tea  on  board  the  ships  should  not  be  per- 
mitted to  land.  Forty  or  fifty  men  disguised  as  In- 
dians had  gathered  in  the  back  room  of  a printing 
office  near  by,  waiting  for  the  agreed  signal  from 
Samuel  Adams,  when  he  exclaimed:  “This  meeting 
can  do  nothing  more  to  save  the  country.”  A shout 


IO 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


from  the  crowd  was  answered  by  a war-whoop  from 
the  “Mohawks”  who  started  a rush  for  the  wharf, 
followed  by  a thousand  or  so  of  others  from  every 
direction.  Who  were  these  “Mohawks”  in  paint 
and  gear?  Sons  of  Liberty,  Free  Masons,  members 
of  St.  Andrew’s  Lodge,  led  by  their  Junior  Warden, 
Paul  Revere.  About  one  hundred  men  boarded  the 
three  ships  and  for  three  hours  worked  steadily 
with  their  hatchets  and  in  that  time  342  chests  of 
tea,  valued  at  $90,000  went  over  into  the  docks. 
The  Boston  Tea  Party  may  aptly  be  called  “a 
Masonic  night  out.” 

The  Convention  which  met  at  Charlotte,  Mecklen- 
burg County,  North  Carolina,  May  20,  1775,  was 
composed  mostly  of  Masons — North  of  Ireland 
Presbyterians.  While  the  convention  was  in  session 
the  news  of  the  fight  at  Lexington  and  Concord 
reached  Charlotte.  On  May  31st,  that  body  adopted 
what  is  known  as  the  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of 
Independence,  which  was  in  its  general  tenor 
analogous  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence — 
many  of  the  phrases  being  word  for  word  as  they 
appear  in  that  historic  document. 

The  Continental  Congress  (so  named  to  distin- 
guish it  from  a Provincial  Assembly)  representing 
all  the  thirteen  Colonies,  was  at  first  proposed  by 
New  York  for  the  purpose  of  united  action  in  re- 
sisting the  aggressions  of  the  British  Government. 
The  plan  came  from  Pennsylvania;  the  selection  of 
the  time  and  place  for  the  meeting  was  by  courtesy 
accorded  to  Massachusetts,  the  severest  sufferer. 

The  Massachusetts  Assembly  fixed  upon  Septem- 
ber 1,  1774.  The  first  Congress  convened  on  that 
date  in  Carpenter’s  Hall,  Philadelphia,  continuing 
in  session  eight  weeks. 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


1 1 


Later  the  sessions  were  held  in  the  State  House, 
known  to  history  as  Independence  Hall,  erected  in 
the  years  of  1729  to  1734  at  a cost  of  $28,000 — 
at  the  time  considered  an  extravagant  expenditure 
for  a public  building. 

The  Continental  Congress,  the  sessions  of  which 
extended  through  ten  years,  comprised  in  all  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  members.  Of  these  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  were  college  graduates — 
twenty-eight  from  Princeton,  twenty-three  from 
Harvard,  twenty-three  from  Yale,  eleven  from 
William  and  Mary,  eight  from  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  four  from  Columbia,  one  from 
Brown  and  one  from  Rutgers,  while  twenty-one 
were  educated  abroad.  Of  the  fifty-six  delegates 
who  signed  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  twenty- 
eight  were  college  graduates. 

The  first  Continental  Congress  was  composed 
largely  of  Masons.  The  cause  for  which  they  en- 
listed required  that  they  hang  together;  otherwise 
they  might  have  hung  separately. 

On  motion  of  George  Washington,  unquestion- 
ably the  greatest  man  on  that  floor,  Peyton  Ran- 
dolph, Past  Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  Virginia, 
was  selected  to  preside  over  its  deliberations. 

Randolph  was  called  on  to  preside  over  the  sec- 
ond session,  which  convened  May  10,  1775,  during 
which  he  died.  He  was  buried  with  Masonic 
honors. 

Randolph  was  succeeded  by  another  Mason — 
John  Hancock  of  Massachusetts,  who  subsequently 
became  Governor  of  that  State. 

A signature  to  the  Declaration  would  be  regarded 
in  England  as  treason  and  expose  any  man  to  the 
halter  or  the  block.  John  Hancock’s  signature  was 


12 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


so  bold,  that,  as  he  put  it:  “The  King  of  England 
could  read  it  without  spectacles.” 

The  only  signature  on  that  immortal  document 
which  exhibited  a trembling  hand  is  that  of  Stephen 
Hopkins.  He  had  been  afflicted  with  the  palsy, 
which  compelled  him  as  he  wrote,  to  guide  his  right 
hand  with  his  left. 

Richard  Henry  Lee,  a Virginia  Mason,  was  the 
author  of  the  resolutions  for  Independence  which 
preceded  the  fuller  Declaration.  On  June  7,  1776, 
Lee  introduced  in  Congress  the  proposition: 
“That  these  United  Colonies  are  and  of  right  should 
be  free  and  independent  states,  that  they  are  ab- 
solved from  all  allegiance  to'  the  British  Crown  and 
that  all  political  connection  between  them  and  the 
State  of  Britain  is  and  ought  to  be  totally  dissolved.” 

Lee  followed  his  courageous  motion  by  one  of 
the  most  luminous  and  eloquent  speeches  ever  de- 
livered by  any  man  on  the  floor  of  any  Congress. 
The  resolution  was  debated  on  June  8th  and  10th, 
and  then  postponed  for  action  until  Monday,  July 
1st.  That  no  time  should  be  lost,  it  was  resolved 
to  prepare  a Declaration  making  the  resolution  fully 
and  irrevocably  effective. 

The  day  on  which  this  resolution  was  taken,  Lee 
was  unexpectedly  summoned  to  attend  upon  his 
family  in  Virginia.  As  the  mover  of  the  original 
resolution  for  Independence,  it  would,  according  to 
parliamentary  usage,  have  devolved  upon  Lee  to 
prepare  a Declaration  and,  as  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee to  have  furnished  that  important  document 
to  the  assembled  delegates.  The  committee  named 
consisted  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  John  Adams,  Ben- 
jamin Franklin,  Roger  Sherman  and  Robert  R.  Liv- 
ingston— a group  of  the  best  minds  of  that  period. 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  1 3 

Thomas  Jefferson,  the  persistent  champion  of 
national  freedom  and  individual  liberty,  was  desig- 
nated chairman.  Doubt  is  sometimes  expressed  as 
to  whether  Thomas  Jefferson  was  a Mason.  He 
was  a known  member  of  the  Lodge  of  the  Nine 
Muses  in  France,  but  where  he  was  made  a Mason 
is  not  shown  by  existing  records. 

John  Adams,  named  next  to  Jefferson  on  all  occa- 
sions, stood  forth  with  commanding  eloquence  in 
opposition  to  the  injustice  of  Great  Britain.  He 
was  the  most  strenuous  advocate  of  the  Declara- 
tion— the  pillar  of  its  support  on  the  floor  of  Con- 
gress. He  negotiated  in  his  later  career,  the  Treaty 
of  Peace  and  the  Treaty  of  Commerce  with  Great 
Britain.  Though  not  a Mason,  Adams  held  the 
Fraternity  in  the  highest  esteem.  In  acknowledg- 
ing an  address  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts 
in  1798  while  President  of  the  United  States,  Adams 
remarked:  “Many  of  my  best  friends,  among  whom 
was  my  venerable  predecessor,  have  been  Masons ; 
but  it  has  happened  that  I never  had  the  felicity  to 
be  initiated.” 

Benjamin  Franklin,  the  philosopher  of  the  Revo- 
lution and  a distinguished  scientist  of  that  period, 
was  the  third  member  of  the  Committee  who 
drafted  the  Declaration.  He  was  later  a member  of 
the  Convention  for  framing  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States.  Both  at  home  and  abroad  as 
Plenipotentiary  to  foreign  courts,  his  accomplish- 
ments were,  in  their  resourcefulness  and  keen  fore- 
sight, unequaled  by  any  public  man  in  the  country. 
In  the  Treaty  of  Peace  in  1783,  he  secured  such 
favorable  concessions  as  to  astound  the  nations  of 
Europe.  It  was  a rare  triumph  of  American 
diplomatic  skill,  seldom  equaled  and  never  excelled. 


14  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

Benjamin  Franklin,  at  twenty-eight  years  of  age, 
was  Grand  Master  of  Masons  .of  Pennsylvania  and 
published  Anderson’s  “Constitutions,”  the  first 
Masonic  book  in  America. 

The  fourth  member  of  that  Committee  was  also 
a Mason — Roger  Sherman,  of  Connecticut.  He 
was  also  a member  of  the  General  Convention  of 
the  States  for  forming  a new  Constitution. 

Robert  R.  Livingston,  who  with  the  assistance 
of  his  Masonic  brother,  James  Monroe,  afterwards 
negotiated  the  Louisiana  Purchase,  was  the  fifth 
member  of  the  Committee  of  Congress  to  prepare 
the  Declaration.  Unfortunately  he  was  not  present 
when  the  actual  signing  took  place  on  August  2, 
1776. 

The  Declaration  was  signed  by  John  Hancock, 
July  4,  1776,  for  and  on  behalf  of  the  members  of 
Congress.  It  was  attested  by  Charles  Thompson,  the 
Secretary. 

On  July  19,  1776,  Congress  voted  that  the 
Declaration  should  be  engrossed  on  parchment  and 
that  it  should  then  be  signed  by  every  member  of 
the  Congress.  On  August  2,  1776,  the  Declaration, 
engrossed  under  this  order,  was  signed  by  fifty 
members  of  the  Congress.  Afterwards  six  more 
added  their  names.  Seven  who  had  been  members 
on  the  Fourth  of  July  did  not  sign  the  immortal 
document. 

Jefferson  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  the 
signing  was  hastened  by  the  presence  of  swarms 
of  flies  from  a near-by  stable;  these  irreverently 
assailed  the  knee-breeched  and  silk-stockinged  legs 
of  the  members. 

Twenty-six  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  were 
lawyers,  fourteen  farmers,  nine  merchants,  four 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  1 5 

physicians  and  one  a minister,  though  three  others 
had  been  educated  for  that  profession.  Three  lived 
to  be  over  ninety  years  of  age,  ten  others  over 
eighty  years  of  age,  while  an  average  for  all  was 
sixty-two. 

Josiah  Bartlett,  a New  Hampshire  Mason,  had 
the  honor  of  being  called  upon  for  an  expression 
of  his  opinion  and  of  being  the  first  to  vote  in  favor 
of  the  resolution. 

Matthew  Thornton,  another  delegate  from  New 
Hampshire,  was  one  of  the  last  to  sign  the  Declara- 
tion. He  was  also  a member  of  the  Fraternity,  hav- 
ing been  made  a Mason  in  a British  military  Lodge 
during  the  French  and  Indian  War. 

Robert  Treat  Paine,  Chairman  of  the  Committee 
to  introduce  the  manufacture  of  salt-peter,  one  of 
the  constituents  of  gunpowder,  and  Elbridge  Gerry, 
the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of  the  Treasury  in 
Congress,  were  the  two  delegates  from  the  Old  Bay 
State  to  sign  the  document.  Both  were  Masons. 

John  Witherspoon  of  Princeton  was  a member 
of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  the  only  minister 
among  the  fifty-six  signers  of  the  Declaration.  It 
was  his  last  appeal  before  the  vote  was  taken,  that 
won  the  day  for  Independence. 

Thomas  McKean,  a Mason,  carried  Delaware’s 
vote  in  Congress  in  favor  of  Independence.  George 
Reed,  though  he  afterward  signed  the  Declaration, 
voted  against  the  resolution.  When  the  final  issue 
of  the  question  was  postponed  until  the  next  day 
however,  McKean  sent  word  to  Caesar  Rodney,  a 
Mason,  who  rode  eighty  miles  on  horseback  that 
night,  and,  with  McKean,  won  Delaware  for  In- 
dependence. 

Lewis  Morris,  a Mason,  whose  estate  at  Mor- 


i6 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


risania,  New  York,  was  occupied  by  the  British  at 
the  time  he  signed  the  Declaration,  was  one  of 
the  boldest  promoters  of  the  Revolution.  It  was 
he  to  whom  subsequently  was  assigned  the  difficult 
task  of  traveling  West  on  the  important  mission  of 
detaching  the  Indians  from  the  British. 

Edward  Rutledge,  another  eloquent  and  convinc- 
ing leader  in  the  Continental  Congress,  though  only 
twenty-five  years  old  when  first  called  to'  serve  in 
National  Council,  was  a man  of  unquestioned 
courage  as  a soldier  during  the  trying  times  when 
the  British  were  ravishing  the  Carolinas.  He  also 
was  a Mason. 

How  many  of  the  fifty-six  Sons  of  Liberty  who 
signed  the  Declaration  were  Masons  it  is  hard  to 
say.  Many  Grand  Lodges  were  not  organized  until 
after  the  Revolution ; records  of  Lodges  were  poorly 
kept,  carrying  often  only  the  names  of  officers ; and 
even  of  these  records  many  were  destroyed  or  other- 
wise lost.  It  is,  however,  safe  to  say  that  upwards 
of  fifty  signers  were  Masons.  Some  students  claim 
that  all  were  Masons  except  Charles  Carroll,  the 
only  Roman  Catholic  signer. 

There  were  only  about  twenty  thousand  Catholics 
in  the  Colonies  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  of 
whom  three-fourths  lived  in  Maryland. 

The  Maryland  delegation  had  been  instructed  to 
refuse  their  assent  to  the  Declaration;  but  through 
the  influence  of  Charles  Carroll,  a new  set  of  in- 
structions were  obtained  which  decided  Maryland 
in  favor  of  Independence.  On  June  28,  1776,  the 
same  day  on  which  this  question  was  decided  favor- 
ably by  Congress,  Carroll  was  elected  a delegate, 
taking  his  seat  July  18,  1776.  Accordingly  he  was 
not  a member  of  Congress  at  the  time  the  question 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  IJ 

was  settled.  To  Carroll  belongs  the  honor  neverthe- 
less, of  contributing  to  the  Declaration  by  assisting 
in  procuring  the  withdrawal  of  prohibitory  instruc- 
tions and  the  adoption  of  others  by  which  the  Mary- 
land delegates  were  authorized  to  vote  for  Inde- 
pendence. 

Few  men  had  more  at  stake  should  the  British 
armies  prove  victorious  than  Carroll ; he,  Washing- 
ton and  Hancock  were  the  three  richest  men  in  the 
Colonies. 

When  someone  said  to  Carroll  that  there  were 
several  Charles  Carrolls  in  Maryland  and  that  he 
could  not  be  identified  when  the  hanging  took  place, 
he  signed  himself  Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton. 


CHAPTER  III 

WASHINGTON’S  MASONIC  MAJOR- 
GENERALS 

The  contest  with  the  Mother  country  had  already 
begun  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  when  Washing- 
ton, then  only  forty-four  years  of  age,  was  ap- 
pointed Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Continental 
Army.  His  appointment  by  Congress,  made  on 
motion  of  John  Adams,  was  unanimously  carried. 
He  gave  himself  body  and  soul  to  the  great  task, 
refusing  payment  for  his  services  and  advancing 
from  his  private  purse  $64,000  to  pay  his  expenses 
while  leading  our  armies. 

Washington  could  well  afford  that  luxury;  but 
how  many  rich  men  of  to-day  avail  themselves  of 
the  opportunity  to  indulge  in  this  kind  of  extrava- 
gance, neglecting  their  own  business  for  the  public 
benefit  and  risking  all  for  the  common  good  ? 


i8 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


The  British  troops,  under  General  Howe,  held 
Boston;  and  the  very  day  Washington  received  his 
commission,  June  17,  1775,  the  Battle  of  Bunker 
Hill  was  fought.  During  the  engagement  on  the 
celebrated  heights  of  Charlestown,  General  Joseph 
Warren,  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Massachusetts,  made  the  supreme  sacrifice  on  the 
altar  of  liberty,  and  the  ground  floor  of  Masonry’s 
temple  was  blood-stained  at  its  Eastern  Gate. 

Washington  hastened  to  Cambridge  and  assumed 
command  of  the  Continental  Army,  July  1,  1775. 
He  found  himself  at  the  head  of  fourteen  thousand 
five  hundred  men,  the  officers  of  which  were,  with 
few  exceptions,  without  experience,  the  soldiers 
without  discipline  and  variously  armed.  One  of 
Washington’s  first  orders  was  to  call  upon  the  in- 
habitants to  send  to  Headquarters,  instantly,  every 
bit  of  lead  or  pewter  at  their  disposal.* 

Equipment,  artillery  and  ordnance  were  sadly 
lacking,  comparatively  few  bayonets,  a small  supply 
of  powder,  and  antiquated  fire-arms  comprised  the 
entire  means  of  warfare.  With  this  motley  aggre- 
gation of  men,  and  all  but  useless  equipment,  Wash- 
ington was  to  build  an  army  capable  of  withstand- 
ing the  onslaughts  of  the  best  troops  of  the  British 
Crown. 


* Woman’s  part  in  the  Revolution  is  well  illustrated  by 
Mary,  the  courageous  wife  of  Captain  Draper,  a thriving 
farmer  of  Dedham,  Massachusetts.  She  not  only  fed  hun- 
dreds of  soldiers  passing  her  home  en  route  to  Boston,  but 
having  gotten  her  husband  ready,  with  her  own  hands,  bound 
a knap-sack  and  blankets  to  her  sixteen-year-old  boy’s  shoul- 
ders. She  then  turned  to  her  large  stock  of  pewter,  the  gift 
of  a sainted  mother,  and  in  a moment  her  dishes  and  platters 
were  ready  for  freedom’s  cause.  Her  husband  had  bought 
a mould  for  casting  bullets  to  supply  himself  and  his  son 
for  hunting  purposes.  This  heroic  wife  of  a Masonic  patriot, 
turned  her  pewter  into  bullets  for  her  country’s  defense. 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  19 

Lafayette  has  been  quoted  as  saying  that  Wash- 
ington never  gave  his  confidence  to  any  of  his  gen- 
erals unless  he  knew  them  to  be  Masons.  Whether 
or  not  this  statement  was  true  we  cannot  say,  but 
it  is  a fact  that  the  most  striking  prevalence  of 
Masonry  existed  in  the  personnel  of  Washington's 
army.  Of  his  twenty-nine  major-generals,  twenty 
were  Masons. 

Standing  first  in  Washington's  affections  was 
Major-General  Henry  Knox,  one  of  the  chief  pillars 
of  American  liberty.  He  was  appointed  Com- 
mander of  the  Artillery  at  the  age  of  twenty-five; 
this  important  commission  and  post  were  assigned 
to  him  for  conspicuous  service  in  transporting  over 
the  miserable  roads  between  Canada  and  Boston 
the  heavy  cannon  which  roared  defiance  on  Dor- 
chester Heights  and  before  which  the  British  were 
forced  to  retire. 

At  Trenton,  Knox's  loud  voice  was  heard  above 
the  roar  of  the  storm,  guiding  the  distracted  troops 
across  the  Delaware.  At  Princeton  and  the  Brandy- 
wine his  guns  wrought  havoc  among  the  British 
regiments.  At  Monmouth  the  smoke  and  thunder 
of  his  field  pieces  confirmed  their  arrival.  The 
skill  and  rapidity  his  artillerymen  displayed  amazed 
the  British.  At  Yorktown  the  Boston  bookseller's 
artillery  execution  did  not  suffer  by  comparison 
with  the  French  artillerists. 

In  every  action  and  Council  of  War  where  Wash- 
ington appeared  in  person,  Knox  attended  him.  He 
moved  with  him  over  every  battlefield  and  finally 
wept  in  the  farewell  scene  in  Fraunce's  Tavern, 
New  York,  when  Washington  took  leave  of  his 
officers.  Eyes,  unaccustomed  to  weep,  flowed  in 
tears;  lips  that  in  the  carnage  of  battle  seemed  iron, 


20 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


quivered  with  emotion.  Knox,  the  closest  friend 
of  Washington,  was  a Mason.* 

Major-General  Nathaniel  Greene,  the  Rhode 
Island  Fighting  Quaker,  was  one  of  the  ablest  com- 
manders in  the  Continental  Army.  Washington’s 
admiration  for  Greene  was  based,  not  alone  upon 
his  personal  qualities  and  characteristics,  but  as 
well  upon  his  military  genius  and  loyal  devotion. 
When  without  Washington’s  knowledge  or  con- 
sent Gates  was  appointed  to  command  the  Southern 
army,  Congress,  mortified  at  Gates’  failures,  re- 
ferred the  matter  to  Washington  with  whom  it  be- 
longed in  the  first  place.  Washington  placed  Greene 
over  the  wrecked  army,  planned  with  him  that  cam- 


* When  fourteen  years  of  age  Washington  secured  a com- 
mission  as  midshipman  in  the  British  navy.  When  all  the 
preparations  had  been  made  for  his  departure,  unable  to 
persuade  him  that  his  choice  was  unwise,  his  mother  for- 
bade his  going.  He  surrendered  his  commission  and  re- 
turned to  his  mathematics  in  preparation  for  his  career  as  a 
civil  engineer. 

The  next  order  of  goods  that  Mary,  the  mother  of  Wash- 
ington, sent  to  England,  contained  the  item,  “one  good  pen- 
knife.” This  she  presented  to  George  as  a reward  for  his 
obedience  and  counselled  him : “Always  obey  your  superiors.” 

Washington  always  carried  that  pocket-knife  and  years 
later  told  its  history  to  General  Knox. 

At  Valley  Forge  the  suffering  of  his  ragged  and  starving 
troops  filled  Washington  with  despair.  Shoes,  blankets  and 
shelter  were  sorely  needed.  Disgusted  with  the  divided  and 
grumbling  Congress,  the  selfish  and  suspicious  legislatures 
of  the  separate  States,  who  thwarted  his  plans  and  rendered 
his  efforts  powerless,  Washington  wrote  his  resignation  as 
Commander-in-Chief  and  summoning  his  staff  read  it  to 
them.  General  Knox,  reminding  him  of  the  penknife  and 
his  mother’s  words,  said,  “You  were  commanded  to  lead  this 
army  and  no  one  has  ordered  you  to  cease  leading  it. 
Think  it  over.”  Half  an  hour  later  Washington  tore  up  his 
resignation. 

This  is  a striking  example  of  the  intrinsic  value  of  the 
teachings  of  Masonry.  By  whispering  words  of  wise  counsel 
into  the  ear  of  an  erring  brother,  General  Knox  retained 
Washington  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  American  army. 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


21 


paign  which  saved  the  South  and  which  crowned 
Greene,  a Mason,  with  unfading  laurels. 

To  Major-General  William  Alexander,  popularly 
known  as  Lord  Stirling,  was  assigned  the  honor  of 
opening  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  unfortunately 
resulting  in  his  capture  and  defeat.  He  was  subse- 
quently exchanged  and  fought  with  Lafayette  at 
the  Brandywine  and  commanded  a reserve  at  Ger- 
mantown. The  fortunate  turn  in  the  battle  at  Mon- 
mouth is  due  largely  to  Stirling  who,  with  Knox, 
rushed  artillery  into  action  and  assisted  effectively 
in  dispersing  the  British  forces.  Stirling  wore  the 
lambskin. 

Major-General  Israel  Putnam,  an  enthusiastic 
member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  was,  like  Cin- 
cinnatus  of  old,  plowing  his  fields  when  the  news 
of  the  Battle  of  Lexington  reached  him.  He  turned 
the  oxen  loose  at  once,  and  without  bidding  his 
family  good-bye,  rode  to  Cambridge.  At  Bunker 
Hill  he  displayed  great  valor,  later  proving  himself 
one  of  the  bravest  and  most  capable  of  the  patriotic 
leaders.  He  accompanied  Washington  in  the  re- 
treat through  New  Jersey  and  later  recruited  and 
commanded  three  brigades  of  New  England  troops. 
In  1780  a stroke  of  paralysis  forced  his  retirement 
from  the  army. 

Major-General  Benjamin  Lincoln,  a worthy 
brother  of  the  Craft,  was  one  of  the  most  un- 
fortunate officers  in  the  Continental  Army.  Though 
participating  in  every  important  battle  of  the  Revo- 
lution, he  never  won  a victory  when  in  command 
of  the  troops.  He  was  an  able  general  however; 
but  such  are  the  fortunes  of  war.  He  was  appointed 
by  Washington  to  receive  Cornwallis’  sword  at 
Yorktown.  This  honor  was  conferred  by  the  ever- 


22 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


thoughtful  Washington  who  realized  Lincoln’s 
humiliation  when  he  was  compelled  to  surrender 
his  sword  to  the  British  General  Clinton  at  Charles- 
ton. Lincoln  was  permanently  crippled  by  a 
wound  received  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga. 

Major-General  John  Sullivan,  with  a company 
of  citizens  from  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  sur- 
prised Fort  William  and  Mary  at  New  Castle  and 
carried  off  one  hundred  barrels  of  gunpowder  and 
fifteen  pieces  of  artillery.  These  acquisitions  were 
used  six  months  later  at  Bunker  Hill.  Sullivan 
had  the  honor  of  leading  one  of  the  columns  of 
Washington’s  army  through  the  storm  of  sleet  and 
snow  across  the  ice-filled  Delaware,  and  was  the 
first  to  surprise  the  bewildered  Hessians  at  Tren- 
ton. Later  he  faithfully  executed  the  expedition 
against  the  Indians  along  the  lakes  and  rivers  of 
the  North — a war  measure  planned  and  approved 
by  Washington.  Sullivan  was  the  first  Grand 
Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  Hampshire. 

Major-General  Richard  Montgomery  acquired  his 
military  training  in  the  British  army.  At  the  out- 
break of  hostilities  between  the  Colonies  and  Great 
Britain  he  gladly  cast  his  lot  with  that  of  his  adopted 
country.  To  him  was  entrusted  the  invasion  of 
Canada  and  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine,  he  fell  in  the 
disastrous  attack  on  Quebec.  This  brave  young 
Mason,  had  he  lived,  would  have  been  pre-eminent 
among  the  military  leaders  of  the  Revolution. 

Major-General  Anthony  Wayne — known  to  his- 
tory as  “Mad  Anthony” — proved  himself  one  of 
the  most  intrepid  fighters  of  the  Revolution.  As 
Brigadier-General  he  fought  in  the  battle  of  the 
Brandywine.  During  those  cheerless  days  at  Valley 
Forge,  Wayne  led  many  successful  foraging  ex- 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  23 

peditions,  thus  contributing  greatly  to  the  comfort 
of  the  sorely  tried  army.  To  this  brave  Masonic 
officer  was  assigned  the  honor  of  opening  the  battle 
of  Monmouth.  The  daring  with  which  Wayne 
executed  the  surprise  attack  on  the  British  strong- 
hold at  Stony  Point-on-the-Hudson,  is  one  of  the 
bright  spots  in  a trying  and  almost  disastrous 
period.  A witless  fellow  in  camp  formed  the  habit 
of  muttering  “Mad  Anthony”  whenever  he  saw  the 
General;  the  term  so  aptly  characterized  Wayne’s 
fighting  qualities,  that  it  was  universally  adopted 
by  the  troops. 

Major-General  William  Smallwood  led  the 
Maryland  brigade  in  the  Battle  of  Long  Island 
and  severely  repulsed  the  British  troops.  Later  he 
was  wounded  in  the  Battle  of  White  Plains.  He 
took  part  in  the  battles  of  the  Brandywine,  Ger- 
mantown and  Monmouth,  commanding  the  Mary- 
land troops,  who  displayed  most  conspicuous  valor 
throughout  the  War.  In  the  Battle  of  Camden, 
following  the  death  of  DeKalb,  Smallwood  assumed 
command  and  distinguished  himself  by  saving  the 
defeated  army  from  capture.  For  this  he  received 
the  thanks  of  Congress  and  was  commissioned 
Major-General.  Smallwood  wore  the  Square  and 
Compass. 

In  1779  the  British  forces  under  General  Prevost 
demanded  of  the  Governor  and  Privy  Council,  the 
surrender  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina.  Major- 
General  William  Moultrie,  a Mason,  claiming  his 
own  authority  excelled  theirs,  refused : “I  am  de- 
termined to  do  no  such  thing.  We  will  fight  it  out !” 
His  resistance  caused  the  British  to  withdraw. 
Moultrie  was  captured  in  that  city  the  following 
year  when  it  was  surrendered  by  General  Lincoln. 


24  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

In  1785  Moultrie  was  elected  Governor  of  South 
Carolina. 

Major-General  Arthur  St.  Clair,  who  fought  with 
Wolfe  in  that  bold  attack  on  the  heights  of  Quebec 
during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  was  the  only 
officer  in  the  Continental  Army  who  understood  per- 
fectly the  topography  of  the  country  between  Tren- 
ton and  Princeton.  Washington  relied  on  him 
chiefly  in  the  disposition  of  troops  for  those  two 
important  battles.  St.  Clair  was  a Mason  and  his 
grave  at  Greensburg,  Pennsylvania,  is  marked  by 
a Masonic  headstone  erected  by  his  Lodge. 

Major-General  Thomas  Nelson,  Jr.,  who  signed 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  was  Governor  of 
Virginia  in  succession  to  Thomas  Jefferson  when 
the  British  invaded  that  State.  He  organized  the 
Virginia  militia,  consisting  of  over  four  thousand 
troops  and  effectively  arrested  the  progress  of  the 
invaders.  Nelson,  a Mason,  fired  the  first  shot  in 
the  last  battle  of  the  Revolution.  When  Corn- 
wallis entered  Yorktown  he  made  General  Nelson’s 
mansion  his  headquarters.  The  American  gunners 
hesitating  to  fire  on  his  home,  Nelson  stepped  for- 
ward, aimed  the  cannon  at  his  own  home,  touched 
the  fuse  and  sent  a thunderbolt  of  war  crashing 
through  it — an  act  which  inspired  the  whole  army 
with  a fighting  spirit. 

Baron  von  Steuben,  who  had  learned  the  art  of 
war  under  Frederick  the  Great,  and  whose  services 
were  sought  by  the  Emperor  of  Austria,  came  to 
share  our  struggles  and  our  sufferings.  He  was 
aide-de-camp  to  the  King  of  Prussia  and  high  in 
favor  and  rank.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  von 
Steuben  was  made  a 32 0 Mason  by  Frederick  the 
Great  a few  years  before  he  came  to  America.  His 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  25 

ability  as  an  organizer  was  immediately  recognized 
by  Washington  who  assigned  him  at  once  to  the 
main  army  at  Valley  Forge,  later  recommending  his 
appointment  as  Inspector-General  of  the  army. 

Cavalry  and  artillery  were  sadly  lacking  and 
much  of  the  equipment  was  unfit  for  use.  The 
troops  were  little  better  than  a ragged  horde.  They 
could  not  execute  the  simplest  maneuvers.  Dis- 
cipline seemed  unknown  to  the  American  soldier. 
Von  Steuben  declared  that  no  European  army 
could  have  been  kept  together  under  such  suffering. 
He  cursed  the  troops  until  all  his  epithets,  in  the 
use  of  which  he  was  a past  master,  were  exhausted ; 
then  he  called  on  his  aids  to  swear  in  his  stead.  But 
with  all  the  sympathies  of  his  noble  nature  aroused 
in  our  behalf,  von  Steuben  instructed  both  officers 
and  men  and  developed  a degree  of  discipline  which 
surprised  the  French  officers  visiting  him.  When 
astonishment  was  expressed  that  so  little  noise  was 
heard,  the  Baron  exclaimed:  “Noise,  I do  not  know 
where  the  noise  should  come  from,  when  even  my 
Brigadiers  dare  not  open  their  mouths  but  to  repeat 
my  orders.” 

At  the  request  of  Washington,  von  Steuben  wrote 
for  the  army  a manual  containing  rules  of  discipline 
and  inspection  compiled  on  his  intimate  knowledge 
of  the  Prussian  system.  This  book  was  first  written 
in  French  and  afterward  translated ; it  was  approved 
by  Washington  and  adopted  by  Congress. 

As  Major-General  of  the  forces  at  Yorktown, 
von  Steuben  received  the  first  offer  of  capitulation 
from  Lord  Cornwallis. 

Major-General  John  DeKalb,  the  generous 
stranger  and  Mason,  though  a German  by  birth,  had 
long  served  in  France  and  came  here  as  a French 


26 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


officer.  His  cautious  tactics  at  Camden  were  dis- 
approved and  changed  by  Gates.  After  long  and 
hard  fighting  DeKalb  fell  on  that  ill-fated  field  he 
struggled  so  nobly  to  win.  Eleven  wounds  on  his 
body  proved  this  courageous  soldier  fought  bravely 
before  he  died. 

The  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  a youth  of  nineteen, 
basking  in  the  sunshine  of  royal  favor  at  the  French 
court,  heard  the  call  of  American  liberty.  Without 
awaiting  the  King’s  permission  he  hastened  to 
America.  He  lavished  his  wealth  on  our  naked  and 
starving  soldiers  and  wound  himself  in  childlike 
affection  around  the  heart  of  Washington,  who  in 
turn  loved  him  as  a son.  This  patriot  of  the  Old 
and  New  World  was  made  a Mason  by  Washington 
himself  at  the  old  Freeman’s  Tavern,  on  the  Green, 
at  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  in  what  was  then  Mili- 
tary Lodge,  No.  19,  now  Montgomery  Lodge  of 
Philadelphia.  Lafayette’s  last  visit  to  his  old  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  was  marked  with  Masonic  signifi- 
cance. As  a token  of  brotherly  love  and  affection 
he  presented  Washington  with  the  Masonic  apron 
and  sash  of  silk  already  referred  to,  and  which 
Washington  treasured  and  wore  until  his  death. 

To  Lafayette  our  country  is  greatly  indebted. 
At  its  darkest  hour  he  came  with  his  wealth  and 
youthful  spirit,  imparting  new  life  to  the  struggling 
young  nation.  As  Major-General  in  the  Continental 
Army  he  served  with  distinction,  being  wounded 
in  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine.  His  influence  at 
the  French  court  was  largely  instrumental  in  obtain- 
ing the  support  of  France,  thus  materially  aiding  in 
bringing  the  seven-year  struggle  to  a close. 

Eighty-three  years  after  Lafayette’s  death,  when 
his  beloved  France,  wounded  and  bleeding  from 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  2 J 

three  years  of  invasion  and  pillage,  stood  helpless 
before  the  onrushing  legions  of  her  foes,  an  Ameri- 
can Mason,  General  John  J.  Pershing,  representing 
the  vanguard  of  two  million  American  soldiers, 
stood  before  the  grave  of  this  noble  Frenchman  and 
uttered  the  words  that  thrilled  every  American: 
“Lafayette,  we  are  here!’’  France  and  America 
again  united  in  the  cause  of  Liberty. 

Foremost  among  Washington’s  non-Masonic 
Major-Generals  was  Charles  Lee,  the  adventurous 
soldier.  He  held  a commission  first  in  the  English 
army,  having  come  of  British  military  stock,  and 
then  in  the  Russian  army.  He  was  also  aide-de- 
camp  to  the  King  of  Poland.  The  outbreak  of  the 
Revolution  found  him  in  America,  inspired  by  no 
such  ideals  as  Lafayette,  but  purely  in  search  of 
fame  and  fortune.  He  was  a capable  officer,  but 
considered  his  ability  far  superior  to  that  of  any 
officer  in  the  Continental  Army.  He  deliberately 
disobeyed  Washington’s  orders  and  his  conduct  at 
Monmouth  caused  the  Commander-in-Chief  to  up- 
braid him  and  finally  to  remove  him  from  command. 
He  was  court-martialed  and  his  commission  re- 
voked. He  retired  to  a farm  in  Virginia  and  spent 
the  rest  of  his  days  blaspheming  Washington. 

It  is  a historic  fact  that  three  of  Washington’s 
non-Masonic  Major-Generals  formed  a faction  in 
Congress  which  almost  ruined  the  cause  of  Free- 
dom. They  were  Gates,  Conway  and  Mifflin. 

Major-General  Horatio  Gates  proved  a more 
capable  politician  than  a soldier.  His  chief  attacks 
were  more  often  directed  through  Congress  against 
Washington  than  in  the  field  against  the  British 
forces.  Though  he  is  generally  credited  with  the 
defeat  and  surrender  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga,  yet 


28 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


the  real  credit  is  due  to  Generals  Arnold  and 
Lincoln  and  Colonel  Daniel  Morgan.  General 
Gates  never  once  rode  on  the  field  of  battle,  but 
followed  the  European  custom  of  directing  his  at- 
tacks from  a distance.  The  Continental  soldier 
came  of  a race  of  hardy  pioneers  who  respected 
and  admired  courage,  such  leadership  lost  their  re- 
spect and  lowered  their  morale.  General  Gates’ 
influence  in  Congress  caused  his  transfer  to  the 
Southern  field  of  operations  where  he  failed  miser- 
ably. His  inefficiency  as  a commander  of  troops 
was  finally  recognized.  He  was  removed  from 
command,  but  restored  again  in  1782.  Gates’  defeat 
at  Camden,  however,  practically  ended  his  career. 

Major-General  Thomas  Conway,  the  arrogant, 
boastful  adventurer,  whose  strange  promotion 
aroused  Washington’s  ire,  sought  to  injure  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  by  addressing  anonymous  letters 
to  those  in  authority.  He  instigated  what  is  since 
known  as  the  “Conway  Cabal.”  After  fighting  a 
duel  with  one  of  Washington’s  staff  officers,  he  re- 
signed his  commission  and  sailed  to  France. 

Major-General  Thomas  Mifflin,  whose  slackness 
in  the  performance  of  his  duty  as  Quarter-Master- 
General  of  the  Army  resulting  in  his  dismissal  from 
the  service,  also  took  a conspicuous  part  in  the 
“Conway  Cabal.” 

Major-General  Benedict  Arnold  was  a Mason. 
He  was  raised  in  Hiram  Lodge,  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, and  attended  Solomon’s  Lodge,  No.  6,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  In  the  minutes  of  that 
Lodge,  May  16,  1781,  we  find  an  entry  directing 
that  his  name  be  obliterated ; his  name  was  actually 
cut  out  of  all  Masonic  records. 

While  we  have  only  the  deepest  contempt  for  a 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  29 

traitor  under  any  circumstances  and  can  conceive  of 
no  justification  for  that  crime,  yet  it  must  be  noted 
and  acknowledged  that  Arnold  performed  most 
brilliant  service  during  the  period  of  his  loyalty — 
a service  which  the  political  authorities  then  failed 
honestly  to  recognize  or  justly  to  reward. 

Washington  sent  Arnold  through  the  forests 
against  Quebec.  Arnold’s  achievements  in  the 
march  from  Cambridge  through  sleet  storms,  across 
frozen  lakes  and  through  dense  forests,  after  an 
enemy,  scaling  the  heights  to  the  Plains  of  Abra- 
ham, daring  the  garrison  thrice  his  numbers  to  come 
out  and  fight,  were  in  many  respects  more  wonder- 
ful than  Napoleon’s  flight  from  Moscow,  Julian’s 
retreat  across  the  desert  or  Suvarov’s  flight  over  the 
Alps,  before  an  enemy.  This  expedition  illustrated 
Arnold’s  amazing  energy  and  the  hardiness  of  his 
men. 

The  garrison  refused  to  fight  and  reinforcements 
from  Carleton  compelled  Arnold  to  fall  back.  On 
the  arrival  of  Montgomery,  however,  they  made  an 
assault  in  which  Montgomery  was  killed  and 
Arnold’s  leg  was  shattered.  Nevertheless  the  siege 
was  maintained  from  November  until  April.  Que- 
bec won  for  Arnold  a brigadier  generalship. 

The  first  battle  between  the  American  and  British 
fleets  and  one  of  the  most  obstinate  naval  engage- 
ments in  our  history,  was  fought  by  Arnold  near 
Valcour  Island,  on  Lake  Champlain.  Though  out- 
numbered he  escaped  with  most  of  his  boats  and 
all  of  his  men,  driving  the  British  to  Montreal,  thus 
enabling  the  Army  of  the  North  to  send  three  thou- 
sand men  for  the  battles  of  Trenton  and  Princeton. 

About  this  time  occurred  an  event  that  first  made 
Arnold  speak  bitterly  of  his  country.  Congress 


30  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

created  five  new  major-generals,  all  of  whom  were 
Arnold’s  juniors  in  rank  and  none  having  a tithe  of 
his  abilities  or  achievements.  Washington  was 
astounded  and  at  once  wrote  Arnold  begging  him 
not  to  act  hastily,  assuring  him  that  there  must  be 
some  mistake.  Under  a similar  injustice,  Stark 
resigned  and  Sullivan  threatened  to  do  so.  At 
Washington’s  request  Arnold  withheld  his  resigna- 
tion, the  Commander-in-Chief  acknowledging  the 
wrong  and  promising  that  it  should  be  righted. 

Washington  demanded  an  explanation  from  Con- 
gress and  received  the  reply  that  since  two  men 
from  Arnold’s  State  (Connecticut)  were  major- 
generals,  Arnold  could  not  be  considered  for  that 
rank.  This  explanation — now  so  notoriously  com- 
mon a basis  in  the  distribution  of  present-day  politi- 
cal patronage — served  only  to  disgust  and  the  more 
deeply  anger  the  disappointed  General.  Arnold, 
nevertheless,  contented  himself  with  asking  to  be 
made  ranking  officer  and  offered  to  serve  under  his 
former  juniors. 

Arnold’s  splendid  deeds  during  Tryon’s  invasion 
of  Connecticut  forced  Congress  to  commission  him 
a Major-General;  but  this  still  left  him  outranked 
by  his  former  subordinates.  He  again  submitted 
his  resignation  which  General  Schuyler  refused  to 
consider.  Like  Washington,  Schuyler  appreciated 
Arnold’s  services  and  by  appealing  to  Arnold’s  pa- 
triotism persuaded  him  to  remain  until  immediate 
danger  had  passed.  Meanwhile  came  news  of 
Herkimer’s  defeat  and  death  at  Oriskany.  At 
Washington’s  request  Congress  sent  Arnold  to  the 
rescue. 

As  before  stated,  Gates  never  once  rode  on  the 
fields  of  battle  at  Saratoga.  The  battle  of  Septem- 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  3 1 

ber  19th  was  fought,  with  the  exception  of  Mor- 
gan’s riflemen,  by  Arnold’s  division  alone.  In  this 
crisis  the  country  owed  its  salvation  to  Arnold. 

In  the  second  battle  of  Saratoga,  October  7th,  to 
crown  his  glaring  injustice  and  contemptible  mean- 
ness, Gates  took  Arnold’s  division  away  from  him 
and  gave  it  to  Lincoln  so  that  Arnold,  the  bravest 
and  most  successful  general  of  the  army,  would 
have  been  without  a command  had  he  not  assumed 
it  without  official  right.  Arnold’s  fearful,  frenzied 
daring  infused  new  spirit  into  the  troops;  they  fol- 
lowed him  like  madmen,  carrying  everything  before 
them  and  routing  Burgoyne’s  army.  In  that  vic- 
tory, Arnold’s  leg,  which  was  broken  at  Quebec, 
was  shattered  a second  time. 

The  far-reaching  consequences  and  importance 
of  Arnold’s  services  in  this  battle  alone  cannot  be 
over-estimated.  By  the  victory  at  Saratoga,  France 
was  convinced  of  the  possibility  of  America’s  ulti- 
mate success  and  concluded  the  alliance  which  con- 
tributed so  materially  to  the  defeat  of  the  British 
and  their  complete  surrender  and  evacuation  of  our 
soil. 

That  winter  Congress  grudgingly  gave  Arnold 
his  rank.  Washington  presented  him  with  a sword 
and  epaulettes. 

In  his  Canadian  expeditions  and  elsewhere  Arnold 
freely  used  his  own  money  and  repeatedly  pledged 
his  credit  to  keep  the  movements  from  collapse.  His 
claims  were  large.  Congress  was  suspicious  and 
dilatory.  It  was  difficult  to  obtain  money  from  that 
body.  The  Masons  who  controlled  the  first  Con- 
gresses were  now  in  the  field  and  elsewhere  actively 
engaged  in  the  service  of  the  country;  politicians 
sat  in  Congress — a Congress  so  faction-ridden  and 


32  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

incompetent  that  many  of  the  best  patriots  thought 
the  future  of  independence  most  calamitous  even  if 
it  were  obtained. 

While  in  command  of  Philadelphia,  Arnold  be- 
came involved  in  difficulties  with  the  President  and 
Council  of  Philadelphia.  They  preferred  charges 
against  him  before  Congress.  These  charges  were 
finally  sustained  and  Arnold  was  sentenced  to  be 
reprimanded.  Washington  reluctantly  and  very 
gently  fulfilled  the  odious  task  imposed  upon  him. 
Such  was  Washington’s  faith  in  Arnold  that  he 
offered  him  the  post  of  honor  in  the  next  campaign. 
Arnold,  however,  who  had  confidently  expected 
absolute  acquittal  was  so  inflamed  with  anger  that 
even  Washington’s  reprimand,  couched  almost  in 
words  of  praise,  could  not  conciliate  him. 

Arnold  now  for  the  first  time  definitely  deter- 
mined to  betray  his  country.  Injustice  turned  love 
to  hatred;  the  desire  for  revenge  triumphed  over 
patriotism  and  loyalty.  Arnold,  unable  to  endure 
his  fancied  or  actual  wrongs  any  longer  determined 
upon  the  disgraceful  design  of  deserting  to  the 
ranks  of  the  enemy. 

With  this  crime  in  view  he  sought  and  obtained 
from  Washington  in  August,  1780,  command  of 
West  Point,  the  key  to  the  Hudson  River  Valley. 
He  put  himself  in  communication  with  Sir  Henry 
Clinton,  the  British  commander  of  New  York.  To 
perfect  the  details  of  the  plot,  Clinton  sent  his 
adjutant-general,  Major  John  Andre,  to  negotiate 
with  Arnold  near  Stony  Point,  on  the  night  of 
September  21st.  Two  days  later,  while  returning 
by  land,  Andre,  with  incriminating  papers,  was 
captured.  The  officer  to  whom  Andre  was  en- 
trusted after  his  seizure  unsuspectingly  sent  informa- 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  33 

tion  of  his  capture  to  Arnold,  thus  enabling  him  to 
escape  to  the  British  lines.  Arnold  then  was  com- 
missioned a Brigadier-General  in  the  British  army 
and  received  $31,375  in  compensation  for  his  prop- 
erty losses. 

Upon  Congress  must  be  fixed  the  responsibility 
for  the  undoing  of  a man  who  showed  a mag- 
nanimity and  patriotism  unsurpassed  during  that 
period  by  any  officer  in  the  army.  Arnold’s  best 
successes  only  brought  down  upon  him  fresh  insults. 
He  was  surrounded  by  powerful  enemies ; he  became 
desperate  and  reckless.  Arnold  was  keenly  sen- 
sitive, unprincipled  and  fierce  in  his  denouncement 
of  men  and  measures;  he  lived  extravagantly  and 
entertained  lavishly;  he  required  the  money  justly 
due  him.  The  man  who  four  years  before  sent 
$500.00  for  the  destitute  widow  and  five  fatherless 
children  of  a brother  Mason,  Gen.  Joseph  Warren, 
who  fell  on  Bunker  Hill,  suddenly  became  a lost 
man.  Every  noble  feeling  died  at  once  in  his  bosom. 

If  Washington  and  Schuyler  had  only  allowed 
Arnold  to  retire  from  the  army  when  he  insisted 
on  doing  so,  his  countrymen  would  in  time  have 
redressed  the  wrongs  and  given  him  that  place  in 
their  affections  which  his  splendid  services  so  well 
merited. 

In  a London  garret  lay  Benedict  Arnold — half 
dressed — his  legs  concealed  in  long  military  boots. 
A minister  sat  by  his  side.  Suddenly  the  dying 
man  arose,  tottered  across  the  floor,  threw  open  a 
valise,  drew  thence  the  remnants  of  a battle  flag 
and  a faded  coat  of  blue  faced  with  silver;  the 
coat — pierced  by  a bullet  at  Quebec — was  spotted 
with  Arnold’s  own  blood — it  was  the  uniform  he 
wore  when  he  planted  the  banner  of  the  Stars  on 


34 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


Ticonderoga.  With  the  minister’s  help  Arnold  put 
on  and  once  more  wore  that  moth-eaten  coat  so 
reminiscent  of  the  days  of  loyalty  and  service.  The 
good  minister  spoke  to  him  of  that  faith  which 
pierces  the  clouds  of  human  guilt  and  walls  them 
back  from  the  face  of  God.  Arnold  stood  erect — 
the  death  chill  on  his  brow.  “Faith,”  he  cried, 
“Faith!  Can  it  give  me  back  my  honor?”  In  his 
imagination  he  looked  across  the  seas  and  heard 
Washington  relating  to  his  comrades  the  thrilling 
story  of  the  eight-year  war.  While  the  death-watch 
beats,  the  faded  flag  is  unfurled;  a parchment  is 
unrolled  and  reveals  a Colonel’s  commission  in  the 
Continental  Army  addressed  to  Benedict  Arnold. 
Unwept,  unhonored  and  unsung,  in  all  the  bitter- 
ness of  desolation,  the  patriot  and  traitor  gave  back 
his  spirit  to  God,  while  his  corpse  was  clad  in  the 
uniform  of  a Continental  soldier. 


CHAPTER  IV 

WASHINGTON’S  BRIGADIER  GENERALS 

All  of  Washington’s  Brigadier  Generals  were 
Masons  except  Stephen  Moylan.  He  and  the  ad- 
venturous Conway  were  the  only  Roman  Catholic 
generals  in  the  Continental  Army;  but  it  is  unfair 
to  couple  Moylan’s  name  with  that  of  Conway. 
Moylan’s  character  was  above  reproach.  He  was  a 
loyal  soldier  and  one  of  Washington’s  friends  and 
comrades-in-arms.  Moylan  served  on  Washington’s 
staff  for  two  years  and  was  then  commissioned 
Colonel  of  a Pennsylvania  regiment  of  cavalry 
which  he  recruited.  He  served  with  distinction  in 
the  South  under  Wayne  and  Greene,  and  was  one 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  35 

of  the  last  to  be  commissioned  Brigadier-General 
before  hostilities  ceased. 

General  Henry  Lee — “Light  Horse  Harry  Lee” — 
won  fame  and  glory  by  his  success  and  achieve- 
ments in  the  battles  for  Independence.  The  capture 
of  the  British  outpost  at  Paulus  Hook,  New  Jersey, 
by  his  light  horse  cavalry,  was  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  exploits  of  the  war.  Lee  out-fought  Tarle- 
ton  at  Guilford  Court  House ; with  Marion  he  com- 
pelled Rawdon  to  abandon  Camden  and  captured 
the  rear-guard  of  that  British  general’s  forces  at 
Eutaw  Springs;  he  took  Augusta,  and,  upon  Wash- 
ington’s assignment,  suppressed  the  “Whiskey  In- 
surrection” in  Western  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  funeral  oration  upon  Washington,  de- 
livered by  Lee  before  both  Houses  of  Congress, 
occurs  the  immortal  phrase  so  thoroughly  epitomiz- 
ing Washington’s  attributes,  “First  in  war,  first  in 
peace,  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen.”  It 
was  the  tribute  of  a brother  Mason  to  the  founder 
of  the  Republic. 

To  General  Lachlan  McIntosh,  a Mason,  Wash- 
ington assigned  the  difficult  task  of  defending  the 
frontiers  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  against  the 
Indians,  a duty  he  ably  performed.  He  was  then 
assigned  to  the  Southern  army  under  the  command 
of  General  Lincoln.  McIntosh  was  taken  prisoner 
at  the  surrender  of  Charleston  in  1780.  He  was 
later  exchanged  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war. 

General  Joseph  Reed,  the  friend  and  counselor 
of  Washington,  was  an  able  writer  and  a brave 
officer.  His  reply  to  Governor  Johnstone,  who  was 
sent  by  Great  Britain  to  arbitrate  with  the  Colonists, 
and  who  tried  to  corrupt  Reed  by  offering  him 


2,6  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

$50,000  if  he  would  join  the  royal  standard,  was 
characteristic  of  Reed’s  refined  temperament.  He 
is  said  to  have  replied:  “I  am  not  worth  purchas- 
ing; but  such  as  I am  the  King  of  England  is  not 
rich  enough  to  do  it.”  This  noble  Mason  served 
throughout  the  war  and  though  seven  horses  were 
shot  from  under  him  he  escaped  unwounded. 

Three  distinguished  Southern  Masons,  Marion, 
Sumter  and  Pickens,  earned  imperishable  glory  by 
their  deeds  and  rank  foremost  among  our  Revolu- 
tionary leaders.  They  commanded  the  Carolina 
troops,  composed  mostly  of  backwoodsmen,  trap- 
pers and  mountaineers. 

General  Francis  Marion,  the  “Swamp  Fox  of  the 
Carolinas,”  seemed  omnipresent  to  the  terror- 
stricken  loyalists.  To  tireless  vigilance  he  added  a 
dogged  persistence  and  perseverance.  With  his 
staunch  followers  he  would  embark  on  the  most 
hazardous  undertakings,  but  his  prudence  remained 
unmarred  by  any  rash  act. 

General  Thomas  Sumter,  the  “South  Carolina 
Game-cock,”  proved  a never-ending  source  of  an- 
noyance to  the  British  and  ably  checked  their  plans 
to  subdue  the  Southern  colonies.  His  method  of 
fighting  was  to  swoop  down  on  a small  detachment 
of  troops,  take  them  prisoners  and  disappear.  In 
the  battles  of  Catawba  and  Hanging  Rock  he  proved 
an  able  leader.  To  Sumter  much  credit  is  due  for 
the  ultimate  defeat  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown. 

General  Andrew  Pickens  commanded  the  troops 
of  North  Carolina  and  fought  several  minor  en- 
gagements with  the  British  and  Indians.  Pickens 
was  presented  with  a sword,  by  Congress,  for  his 
gallant  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Cowpens.  Subse- 
quently he  forced  the  surrender  of  the  British  forts 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  27 

at  Augusta,  Georgia,  and  commanded  a brigade 
at  the  battle  of  Eutaw  Springs. 

General  John  Peter  Gabriel  Muhlenberg,  the 
preacher-patriot  who  turned  soldier  at  the  request 
of  Washington,  in  his  last  sermon  at  Woodstock, 
Virginia,  exclaimed : “There  is  a time  for  all  things 
— a time  to  preach  and  a time  to  fight — and  now  is 
the  time  to  fight!”  He  stripped  off  his  gown  and 
stood  dressed  in  a Colonel’s  uniform,  called  for  re- 
cruits and  enrolled  about  three  hundred  of  his 
parishioners.  Muhlenberg  was  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

General  John  Stark,  a Mason,  declared  his  wife 
Molly  would  be  a widow  unless  the  British  strong- 
hold at  Bennington,  Vermont,  was  taken.  This 
natural  Yankee  statement  of  Stark’s  so  inspired  his 
men  that  they  overwhelmed  the  British  garrison. 
Stark  resigned  his  commission ; but  later,  when 
Burgoyne’s  invasion  of  the  North  was  gaining  head- 
way, he  recruited  a brigade  and  fought  valiantly 
until  the  close  of  that  campaign.  John  and  Molly 
Stark  were  spared  to  their  country  for  many  years 
to  come. 

General  John  Cadwalader  was  a devoted  friend 
of  Washington.  He  fought  a duel  with  Conway  in 
which  he  ably  punished  the  miscreant  for  his  asper- 
sions upon  the  Commander-in-Chief.  Cadwalader 
twice  refused  a commission  as  Brigadier-General, 
preferring  to  stay  with  Washington  and  lead  the 
Pennsylvania  troops.  He  served  with  distinction 
at  Princeton,  Brandywine,  Germantown  and  Mon- 
mouth. Cadwalader  was  a brother  of  the  Mystic 
Tie. 

General  Rufus  Putnam,  a cousin  to  Major-Gen- 
eral Israel  Putnam,  was  considered  superior  to  the 


38  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

best  engineers  in  the  French  army.  Washington 
often  consulted  this  self-taught  engineer  before  de- 
ciding on  the  disposition  of  his  forces.  Putnam 
was  a member  of  the  American  Union  Lodge.  This 
was  the  first  Lodge  organized  in  the  Continental 
Army.  Putnam  subsequently  became  the  first 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  Ohio,  and  was  in- 
strumental in  establishing  the  public  school  system 
of  that  State. 

General  James  Jackson,  Governor  of  Georgia  and 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  that  State  before  he 
was  thirty,  was  the  right  arm  of  his  Masonic 
brother,  General  Wayne,  during  the  evacuation  of 
Savannah  by  the  British  in  1782. 

General  Mordecai  Gist  distinguished  himself  in 
the  Battle  of  Long  Island  when  he  led  the  Mary- 
land troops  in  six  successive  charges,  finally  break- 
ing through  the  British  front  and  escaping  capture. 
He  served  under  DeKalb  in  the  South,  and  the 
Battle  of  Camden  won  for  Gist  a brigadier  general- 
ship. He  aided  materially  in  the  operations  that 
led  to  the  surrender  of  Charleston  and  took  part 
in  the  siege  of  Yorktown.  Gist  wore  the  Square 
and  Compass. 

General  William  Whipple,  who  signed  the  Decla- 
ration of  Independence  and  subsequently  com- 
manded a brigade  at  Stillwater  and  Saratoga,  ar- 
ranged the  terms  of  capitulation  for  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne.  General  Whipple  hailed  from  a New 
Hampshire  Lodge. 

While  commanding  a regiment  of  Maryland  and 
Virginia  riflemen  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Washing- 
ton, Colonel  Otho  H.  Williams  was  captured.  He 
subsequently  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Monmouth 
and  later  served  under  DeKalb  in  the  South,  Wil- 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  39 

liams  then  served  as  adjutant-general  on  the  staff 
of  Greene,  in  which  capacity  he  fought  at  Guilford 
Court  House.  The  brilliant  charge  of  this  brave 
Masonic  officer  at  Eutaw  Springs  won  for  him  a 
commission  as  Brigadier  General. 

General  Richard  Caswell,  the  first  Governor  of 
North  Carolina  and  Grand  Master  of  Masons  in 
that  State,  led  the  troops  of  North  Carolina  in  the 
battle  of  Camden. 

William  R.  Davie,  Governor  of  North  Carolina 
in  1798,  and  its  Masonic  Grand  Master,  served  as 
Commissary-General  under  his  Masonic  brother, 
General  Greene. 

Casimir  Pulaski,  a scion  of  Polish  nobility,  came 
to  America  at  the  instigation  of  Benjamin  Franklin. 
Following  the  battle  of  the  Brandywine,  in  which 
he  served  as  a private,  he  was  commissioned  a 
Brigadier-General  and  organized  what  was  called 
the  “Pulaski  Region.”  He  successfully  resisted  the 
attack  on  Charleston  in  1779;  but  in  the  unsuccess- 
ful attack  on  Savannah  he  was  fatally  wounded. 

Thaddeus  Kosciuszko  received  his  military  train- 
ing in  the  Polish  army.  Sympathy  for  America’s 
cause  brought  him  to  our  shores.  He  devised  the 
defenses  of  Bemis  Heights  and  West  Point.  Kosci- 
uszko served  as  adjutant  to  General  Washington 
and  took  part  in  the  siege  of  Ninety-Six  under  Gen- 
eral Greene.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  received 
a vote  of  thanks  from  Congress  and  was  breveted 
Brigadier-General. 

These  two  Polish  patriots,  who  unsheathed  their 
swords  for  American  independence,  were  Masons. 

General  James  Clinton,  who  was  operating  against 
the  British  and  Indians  in  central  New  York,  was 
ordered  to  join  Sullivan  at  Tioga.  Together  they 


40  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

embarked  on  that  perilous  expedition  in  the  valley 
of  the  Genesee.  Clinton  accompanied  Washing- 
ton and  the  allied  army  to'  Yorktown.  He  was 
present  at  the  evacuation  of  New  York  by  the  Brit- 
ish and  formed  one  of  that  immortal  group  of 
officers  of  whom  Washington  took  his  affectionate 
farewell  in  Fraunce’s  Tavern. 

General  George  Clinton,  while  Governor  of  New 
York,  organized  several  regiments  of  militia  and 
hastened  to  the  relief  of  his  brother,  General  James 
Clinton,  who  was  attacked  by  overwhelming  forces 
at  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery  on  the  Hudson 
River.  After  a day  of  hard  fighting  they  escaped 
the  trap  of  the  British  under  cover  of  the  darkness. 
General  George  Clinton  was  for  eighteen  successive 
years  Governor  of  New  York  and  twice  Vice- 
President  of  the  United  States.  These  two  famous 
brothers  were  members  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

General  David  Wooster  of  Connecticut,  though 
sixty-six  years  of  age  when  the  Revolution  broke 
out,  drew  his  sword  against  England’s  usurpations 
with  the  same  valor  that  he  had  formerly  displayed 
in  active  service  as  a brigadier-general  of  the  Brit- 
ish Army.  In  the  British  attack  upon  Danbury, 
Wooster  commanded  the  Colonial  militia  in  person ; 
his  gallantry  and  courage  served  as  an  example  and 
inspiration  for  his  troops  in  their  resistance  to  the 
vigorous  attacks  made  upon  them.  Wooster,  a 
Mason,  fell  mortally  wounded  on  that  field  of  battle, 
maintaining  in  his  last  moments  that  complete  con- 
fidence and  firm  conviction  in  America’s  ultimate 
freedom  which  had  characterized  him  throughout 
the  struggle. 

General  Nicholas  Herkimer,  the  hero  of  Oris- 
kany,  hailed  from  St.  Patrick’s  Lodge,  Johnstown, 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  4 1 

New  York.  Few  battles  of  the  Revolution  were  so 
essential  to  the  success  of  the  Continental  forces  as 
Oriskany;  there  Herkimer  and  his  invincible  Ger- 
mans engaged  the  British  and  Indians  in  a hand- 
to-hand  encounter,  defeating  the  enemy’s  plans  for 
the  junction  of  the  armies  commanded  by  Burgoyne 
and  St.  Leger.  Students  of  history,  in  its  far- 
reaching  ultimate  results,  have  freely  expressed  the 
opinion  that  had  there  been  no  Oriskany,  with  its 
matchless  bravery,  there  would  have  been  no  Sara- 
toga, and  no  Yorktown.  Herkimer  fell  in  that 
battle,  making  the  supreme  sacrifice  to  achieve  the 
victory  which  was  the  dawn  of  that  freedom  we 
now  enjoy. 

General  William  Woodford,  a Mason,  was 
severely  wounded  while  leading  a brigade  in  the 
battle  of  the  Brandywine.  Upon  his  recovery  he 
was  assigned  to  the  Southern  army,  serving  under 
General  Lincoln.  He  was  taken  prisoner  with  the 
surrender  of  Charleston  and  died  while  in  captivity. 

General  Nathaniel  Woodhull  commanded  a bri- 
gade at  the  Battle  of  Long  Island.  A few  days 
after  the  battle  while  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  with 
three  junior  officers,  he  was  surrounded  by  a troop 
of  British  cavalry.  He  gave  up  his  sword  as  a token 
of  surrender;  but  the  officer  who  approached 
ordered  him  to  say,  “God  save  the  King.”  This 
Woodhull  refused  to  do.  His  refusal  enraged  the 
British  officer  who  struck  him  severely  upon  the 
head  with  his  sword,  from  the  effects  of  which 
wound  Woodhull  died.  This  brave  Masonic  patriot, 
like  the  widow’s  son,  sacrificed  his  life  but  saved 
his  integrity;  thus  giving  satisfactory  proof  of  his 
fidelity  to  the  trust  already  reposed  in  him. 

General  Francis  Nash,  a Mason,  joined  the  Con- 


42  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

tinental  Army  as  commander  of  the  First  North 
Carolina  Regiment.  He  soon  rose  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-General  and  led  a brigade  at  the  battle 
of  Germantown.  Toward  the  close  of  the  battle 
he  was  severely  wounded  and  died  shortly  after. 

The  efficiency  and  ability  of  General  Enoch  Poor 
at  the  battle  of  Saratoga  contributed  in  no  small 
part  to  the  successful  close  of  that  campaign.  He 
later  accompanied  his  Masonic  brother,  General 
Sullivan,  on  the  expedition  against  the  Indians. 
Following  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  Poor  contracted 
a severe  fever  and  died  in  camp. 

General  Hugh  Mercer,  who  had  served  with 
Washington,  under  Braddock,  in  the  French  and 
Indian  War,  was  wounded  in  the  surprise  attack 
at  Princeton  and  forced  to  surrender.  The  Hessian 
soldiers,  disregarding  the  universal  rule  of  war- 
fare, rushed  upon  and  pierced  him  with  thirteen 
bayonets.  This  brave  Masonic  officer  died  a few 
days  later  at  the  home  of  a friend. 

General  Philip  Van  Cortlandt  commanded  the 
Second  New  York  Infantry  Regiment  at  the  battle 
of  Saratoga.  Later,  with  General  Clinton,  he  joined 
Sullivan  at  Tioga.  He  was  in  command  in  the  only 
battle  fought  with  the  Indians  who  called  him  the 
“Great  White  Devil,”  due  to  his  knowledge  of  their 
traits  and  customs.  Van  Cortlandt  was  a student 
in  woodcraft  and  an  expert  rifle  shot.  He  served 
throughout  the  war  and  at  Yorktown  was  commis- 
sioned a Brigadier-General.  Van  Cortlandt  wore 
the  lambskin. 

General  Daniel  Morgan,  whose  famous  regiment, 
“Morgan’s  Rifles,”  served  so  valiantly  at  Saratoga, 
was  the  biggest  man,  physically,  in  the  Continental 
Army.  Morgan  saw  service  on  every  front  during 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  43 

the  Revolution.  He  was  noted  for  his  dash  and 
daring  and  was  beloved  by  all  the  troops  who  served 
under  him.  Morgan  was  a member  of  the  Craft. 

General  William  Maxwell  joined  Montgomery 
on  that  ill-fated  expedition  against  Canada,  later 
serving  under  Schuyler  on  Lake  Champlain.  In  the 
battles  of  Brandywine  and  Germantown  he  led  a 
New  Jersey  brigade.  Maxwell’s  troops  contributed 
largely  to  the  success  at  Monmouth.  After  aiding 
Sullivan  in  his  campaign  against  the  Indians,  Max- 
well retired  from  the  army  in  1780.  This  old  Mason 
continued  to  serve  his  country  in  more  peaceful 
pursuits  until  his  death. 

Washington  was  ably  assisted  and  supported  in 
those  trying  days  attendant  upon  the  early  struggle 
for  independence  by  such  Masonic  brothers  as  Gen- 
erals William  Thompson,  John  Nixon,  John  Glover, 
John  Paterson,  John  P.  DeHaas,  George  Weedon, 
Edward  Hand,  Charles  Scott,  Jedediah  Hunting- 
ton,  Jethro  Sumner,  Isaac  Huger  and  William 
Irvine. 

Ethan  Allen’s  successful  surprise  of  Ticonderoga 
filled  the  country  writh  admiration.  In  the  attack 
on  Montreal  Allen  was  captured  and  sent  to  Eng- 
land. On  being  offered  large  tracts  of  land  in 
America  if  he  would  join  the  British  forces,  Allen 
replied  that  the  offer  reminded  him  of  Satan’s  offer 
of  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world:  “When  at  the 
same  time  the  poor  devil  had  not  one  foot  of  land 
upon  the  earth.”  Ethan  Allen  was  a Mason,  as 
was  Cochran,  Captain  of  Allen’s  “Green  Mountain 
Boys.” 

Colonel  William  Barton,  who  was  presented  with 
a sword  by  Congress  for  capturing  the  British  Gen- 
eral Prescott,  hailed  from  a Rhode  Island  Lodge. 


44  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

Henderson,  the  hero  of  Harlem  Heights,  was 
captured  by  the  British  and  paroled  by  General 
Howe  upon  the  intervention  of  a Masonic  brother. 

Alexander  Scammel,  who  commanded  the  Third 
New  Hampshire  Regiment,  studied  law  under  John 
Sullivan  and  assisted  him  in  the  capture  of  Fort 
William  and  Mary,  at  Portsmouth.  Following  the 
battle  of  Saratoga,  in  which  he  was  wounded, 
Scammel  served  as  adjutant  general  on  Washing- 
ton’s staff.  At  the  battle  of  Yorktown,  while  on 
reconnaissance  duty,  Scammel  was  surprised  by  a 
troop  of  Hessians  and  taken  prisoner.  The  brutality 
which  he  suffered  at  the  hands  of  these  Hessian 
soldiers,  resulted  in  the  death  of  this  brave  Masonic 
officer  a week  later. 

When  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington 
reached  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  Henry  Dear- 
born, a physician,  gathered  together  sixty  volun- 
teers and  marched  to  Cambridge.  As  Captain  in 
Colonel  Stark’s  regiment  he  served  at  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  Dearborn  accompanied  Arnold  to 
Quebec.  The  hardships  and  sufferings  of  the 
troops  in  that  campaign  were  almost  incredible. 
Dearborn  made  record  of  the  fact  that  the  men 
were  obliged  to  kill  and  eat  a dog,  which  belonged 
to  him,  and  was  a great  favorite.  Dearborn  was 
captured  in  the  attack  on  Quebec. 

At  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  after  Lee’s  retreat, 
Dearborn’s  regiment  made  a splendid  charge  upon 
the  main  line  of  the  enemy,  forcing  them  into  flight. 
Being  asked  by  Washington,  “What  troops  are 
those?’’  he  replied,  “Full-blooded  Yankees  from 
New  Hampshire,  sir.” 

Dearborn  served  with  marked  distinction 
throughout  the  war  and  later  was  appointed  Secre- 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  45 

tary  of  War  by  President  Jefferson.  As  Major- 
General  of  the  United  States  army,  Dearborn 
planned  the  campaigns  of  the  War  of  1812  and 
subsequently  was  appointed  minister  plenipoten- 
tiary to  Portugal  by  President  Monroe.  Dearborn 
hailed  from  old  St.  John’s  Lodge  of  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire. 

William  Washington,  a distant  relative  of  the 
Commander-in-Chief,  served  as  a Captain  of  In- 
fantry under  General  Mercer.  He  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  splendid  charge  he  led  at  the  battle 
of  Trenton.  While  engaged  in  battle  in  South 
Carolina  Captain  Washington  met  and  fought  a 
duel  with  Colonel  Tarleton,  in  which  both  were 
wounded.  Captain  Washington’s  first  lieutenant 
was  his  Masonic  brother,  James  Munroe,  fifth 
President  of  the  United  States. 

Colonel  Charles  Cotesworth  Pinckney,  as  Wash- 
ington’s aide-de-camp,  was  present  at  the  battles  of 
Brandywine  and  Germantown.  While  leading  the 
South  Carolina  troops  at  Charleston  he  was  taken 
prisoner.  He  was  discharged  from  the  army  with 
the  rank  of  brevet  Brigadier-General.  After  Wash- 
ington’s election  as  President,  he  offered  Pinckney 
a place  on  the  Supreme  Court  Bench ; then  the  post 
of  Secretary  of  War  as  the  successor  of  General 
Knox ; then  that  of  Secretary  of  State,  in  succession 
to  Edmund  Randolph.  As  ambassador  to  France 
on  the  difficult  mission  of  securing  peace  with  our 
ancient  ally,  the  indignant  Carolinian  declared  in 
rejecting  the  dishonorable  terms  proposed  that  his 
country  would  give:  “Millions  for  defense,  but 

not  one  cent  for  tribute.” 

His  equally  famous  brother,  Thomas  Pinckney, 
was  aide-de-camp  to  General  Gates  and  then  to  Gen- 


46  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

eral  Lincoln.  He  was  also  taken  prisoner  in  the 
battle  of  Camden.  He  was  sent  by  President 
Washington  as  the  first  minister  to  England,  and, 
in  1794,  to  Spain  where  he  negotiated  the  impor- 
tant treaty  of  San  Ildefonso,  thereby  securing  to 
the  United  States  the  Florida  territory  and  the  free 
navigation  of  the  Mississippi.  Both  Charles  Cotes- 
worth  Pinckney  and  Thomas  Pinckney  wore  the 
lambskin. 


CHAPTER  V 

MASONS  AS  ORGANIZERS  OF  OUR 
GOVERNMENT 

The  signing  of  the  Treaty  of  Peace  with  Great 
Britain  in  1783  found  thirteen  individual  States 
functioning  under  individual  State  laws  and  each 
determined  to  protect  and  promote  the  interests  of 
its  citizens. 

Considerable  confusion  prevailed  and  the  clamor 
for  “State  Rights”  was  heard  everywhere. 

Washington,  in  a letter,  deplored  the  “illiberality, 
jealousy,  and  local  policy  of  the  States,”  that  was 
likely  to  “sink  the  new  nation  in  the  eyes  of  Europe 
into  contempt.” 

The  best  minds  of  the  day  were  agreed  that  cen- 
tralization of  power  would  not  only  insure  prosper- 
ous growth  but  recognition,  as  a united  nation,  by 
the  powers  of  Europe. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  in  the  “Federalist,”  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  a “constitution”  that  would  pro- 
tect, not  State  rights,  but  individual  rights.  He  pro- 
posed a meeting  of  representatives  from  the  several 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

States  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  advisability 
of  formulating  such  a plan. 

This  resulted  in  the  Constitutional  Convention 
which  met  in  Philadelphia  and  over  which  Washing- 
ton, the  Mason,  presided.  The  Constitution  of  the 
United  States  was  there  created,  ratified  and  estab- 
lished. 

Of  the  fifty-five  members  of  this  Constitutional 
Convention,  thirty-five  were  lawyers  and  at  least 
fifty  were  Masons. 

Washington  was  then  chosen  to  preside  over  the 
new  Government.  At  his  inauguration  as  President 
of  the  United  States  the  oath  of  office  was  admin- 
istered on  the  Bible  brought  from  St.  John’s  Lodge, 
No.  i,  New  York  City,  by  the  Chancellor  of  New 
York,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  then  Grand  Master 
of  Masons  of  that  State,  and  at  a time  when  the 
Governor  of  every  one  of  the  thirteen  States  was  a 
Mason. 

With  the  birth  of  a new  nation,  President 
Washington  apparently  followed  the  same  course 
in  appointing  his  officers  to  labor  in  the  “Lodge” 
over  which  he  was  now  called  upon  to  act  as 
“Master,”  as  he  pursued  in  the  selection  of  his  com- 
manding officers  in  the  Continental  Army.  Almost 
all  of  Washington’s  appointees  were  men  who  wore 
the  lambskin. 

John  Jay,  a distinguished  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  received  the  gratifying  evidence  of 
Washington’s  confidence  and  esteem  in  the  Presi- 
dent’s request  to  select  any  office  he  might  prefer. 
He  was  appointed  the  first  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in  1789.  Jay 
was  associated  with  Hamilton  and  Madison  in  the 
editing  of  the  “Federalist”  which  did  much  to  formu- 


THE  FAMOUS  WASHINGTON  BIBLE  OF  ST.  JOHN’S  LODGE  No.  1 

NEW  YORK. 


On  April  30,  1789,  Washington  was  inaugurated  the  first  President 
of  the  United  States,  on  the  spot  marked  to-day  by  his  statue  erected 
in  Wall  Street,  near  Nassau,  New  York  City. 

On  the  dais  lay  the  Bible  of  St.  John’s  Lodge  No.  1.  When  he  had 
finished  repeating  the  oath,  with  his  right  hand  resting  on  the  open 
Book,  and  his  head  bowed  in  reverential  manner,  he  said  in  a clear 
and  distinct  voice,  “I  swear,  so  help  me  God!”  Then  bowing  over 
this  magnificent  Bible  he  reverently  kissed  it. 

When  Washington  was  sworn  he  rested  his  right  hand  on.  the 
forty-ninth  and  fiftieth  chapters  of  Genesis. 

When  Harding  took  his  oath  of  office  as  President  of  the  United 
States,  one  hundred  and  thirty  two  years  later,  this  same  historic 
Bible  was  used.  He  rested  his  right  hand  on  the  sixth  chapter  of 
Micah. 

This  Sacred  Book  is  still  in  a state  of  excellent  preservation,  sacredly 
cared  for  by  St.  John’s  Lodge  No.  1,  and  on  it  they  obligate  their 
duly  made  Master  Masons. 

On  the  second  page  of  this  Book,  beautifully  engrossed  and  remark- 
ably legible  even  to  this  date  are  the  lines: 

‘On  this  sacred  volume,  on  the  30th  day  of  April,  A.  L.  5789.  in  the  City 
of  New  York,  was  administered  to  George  Washington,  the  first  President 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  the  oath  to  support  the  constitution  of  the 
United  States.  This  important  ceremony  was  performed  by  the  Most  Wor- 
shipful Grand  Master  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  the  Honorable  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Chancellor  of  the  State.’ 

Fame  stretched  her  wings  and  with  her  trumpet  blew. 

Great  Washington  is  near.  What  praise  is  due? 

What  title  shall  he  have?  She  paused — and  said: 

“Not  one — his  name  alone , strikes  every  title  dead.1 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  49 

late  our  present  form  of  Government  and  convince 
the  country  at  large  of  the  great  advantages  to  be 
derived  through  centralization  of  power. 

John  Rutledge  and  Oliver  Ellsworth,  illustrious 
Chief  Justices  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court, 
were  Masons. 

John  Blair,  the  first  man  appointed  by  Washing- 
ton to  the  Federal  Judiciary  and  later  a Justice  of 
the  United  States  Supreme  Court,  was  the  first 
Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  Virginia. 

John  Marshall,  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  served  as  a captain  in  every  im- 
portant engagement  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He 
was  one  of  the  most  eminent  jurists  of  any  modern 
court.  Marshall  interpreted  and  vitalized  the  or- 
ganic law  of  the  United  States  and  imparted  im- 
mortality to  the  Constitution.  He  was  Grand 
Master  of  Masons  of  Virginia. 

Edmund  Randolph,  Washington’s  Attorney  Gen- 
eral and  later  Secretary  of  State  in  succession  to 
Thomas  Jefferson,  was  Grand  Master  of  Masons  of 
Virginia. 

Alexander  Hamilton,  the  genius  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, whom  John  Marshall  ranked  next  to  Wash- 
ington in  ability  and  in  the  character  of  his  public 
service,  served  as  the  first  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury; as  such  he  founded  our  national  financial  sys- 
tem. He  touched  the  corpse  of  public  credit  and 
new  force  was  imparted  to  it.  Hamilton  was  a 
brother  of  the  Mystic  Tie. 

James  Madison,  whose  master  mind  contributed 
to  our  Federal  Constitution  many  of  its  wisest  pro- 
visions, especially  those  relating  to  religious  liberty 
and  the  separation  of  Church  and  State,  was  a 
Mason. 


50  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

The  Superintendent  of  Finance,  Robert  Morris, 
who  financed  the  American  Revolution  and  made 
it  possible  for  the  Declaration  of  Independence  to 
become  an  accomplished  fact,  was  a member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

Haym  Salomon,  the  Polish  Jew  broker  in  Front 
Street,  Philadelphia,  whose  contributions  to  Ameri- 
can liberty  exceeded  half  a million  dollars,  was  a 
member  of  the  Craft. 

Isaac  Moses,  a Mason,  worded  the  petition  of 
the  New  York  merchants  to  the  legislature  on  No- 
vember 1 8,  1784,  which  impelled  and  persuaded  that 
body  to  pass  an  act  levying  specific  duties  and  estab- 
lish the  first  custom  house  in  America. 

DeWitt  Clinton,  nephew  of  Generals  George  and 
James  Clinton,  fearlessly  upheld  the  American  ideal 
of  Government.  He  was  one  of  the  most  construc- 
tive statesmen  of  his  day.  He  was  Mayor  of  New 
York  and  for  nine  years  Governor  of  that  State. 
He  established  the  free  (public)  school  system 
and  organized  the  first  fire  insurance  company  in 
America.  DeWitt  Clinton  also  secured  the  repeal 
of  that  portion  of  the  statute  which  prevented 
Roman  Catholics  voting  at  elections.  This  fearless 
Mason,  of  a noble  Masonic  family,  was  Grand 
Master  of  Masons  of  the  State  of  New  York  and 
James  Madison’s  opponent  for  the  office  of  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  being  the  first  candidate 
to  be  nominated  in  open  convention. 

European  nations  and  the  Barbary  States  were 
brought  to  recognize  the  new  American  republic,  and 
forced  to  pay  homage  to  its  flag,  by  such  Masonic 
naval  commanders  as  Edward  Preble,  James  Law- 
rence, Thomas  Macdonough  and  Stephen  Decatur. 

What  is  more  reasonable  than  to  believe  that  the 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  5 1 

fathers  and  founders  of  this  new  Nation,  believing 
firmly  in  Masonic  principles,  should  make  those 
principles  our  political  creed. 

From  the  laying  of  the  plans  for  the  Revolution 
in  Green  Dragon  Inn,  Boston,  by  such  noted  Masons 
as  Samuel  Adams,  Josiah  Quincy,  Joseph  Warren, 
James  Otis  and  Paul  Revere,  to  the  formation  of 
the  Continental  Congress  resulting  in  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  and  the  formulation  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  through  seven 
years  of  stress  and  struggle  from  Lexington  to 
Yorktown,  the  foremost  characters  in  every  impor- 
tant event  amply  demonstrates  the  powerful  influ- 
ence which  our  Masonic  brethren  wielded  in  the 
early  and  formative  period  of  our  history. 

Thou,  too,  sail  on,  O ship  of  State ! 

Sail  on,  O Union,  strong  and  great ! 

Humanity  with  all  its  fears, 

With  all  the  hopes  of  future  years, 

Is  hanging  breathless  on  thy  fate ! 

We  know  what  Master  laid  thy  keel, 

What  Workman  wrought  thy  ribs  of  steel, 

Who  made  each  mast,  and  sail,  and  rope, 

What  anvils  rang,  what  hammers  beat, 

In  what  a forge  and  what  a heat 
Were  shaped  the  anchors  of  thy  hope ! 

Yet  Freemasonry  has  been  no  stranger  to  persecu- 
tion in  this  country.  Ignorance  of  the  duties  of  a 
Mason  has  led  to  much  of  the  opposition  the  Fra- 
ternity has  encountered. 

In  1826  an  Anti-Masonic  wave  swept  over  the 
Northern  Atlantic  States  due  to  the  disappearance 
of  one  William  Morgan  of  Batavia,  New  York,  a 
man  of  questionable  character  and  dissolute  habits, 
who  published  a pretended  exposition  of  Free  Ma- 
sonry when  his  application  for  affliliation  was  re- 
fused by  the  Chapter  in  Batavia.  After  this  he 


52  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

disappeared;  although  the  Fraternity  was  charged 
with  his  murder  there  never  was  any  evidence  of 
his  death  that  could  be  admitted  in  a court. 

During  the  Presidential  election  of  1832  oppor- 
tunists— self-seeking  politicians — sought  to  use  this 
Anti-Masonic  craze  as  a means  to  further  their  own 
ambitions  and  thus  ride  into  power  on  the  crest  of 
the  Anti-Masonic  wave.  With  this  end  in  view 
they  organized  the  Anti-Masonic  Party.  It  was 
without  proper  guidance,  however,  and  founded 
solely  on  ignorance.  Andrew  Jackson,  a Mason, 
and  a fighter,  was  running  for  re-election.  During 
the  heat  of  the  campaign  excitement  he  stated  that 
he  knew:  “the  Masonic  Society  was  an  institution 
calculated  to  benefit  mankind  and  trusted  it  would 
continue  to  prosper.”  He  was  re-elected  by  an 
overwhelming  majority.  It  is  amusing  to  note  that 
his  two  opponents,  Henry  Clay  and  William  Wirt, 
were  both  duly  obligated  Master  Masons  who  had 
not  renounced  their  affliliations.  We  cannot  but 
question,  however,  the  sincerity  of  Wirt,  who  was 
the  Anti-Masonic  Party’s  candidate,  even  though, 
in  his  speech  of  acceptance,  he  stated  his  doubts  as 
to  his  party’s  position. 

Our  two  martyred  Presidents,  Garfield  and 
McKinley,  were  320  Masons,  belonging  to  the  same 
Consistory  in  Ohio,  which  body  is  further  honored 
by  the  membership  of  Brother  Warren  G.  Harding. 
And  it  is  interesting  to  note  that  one  hundred  and 
thirty-two  years  after  Washington  took  his  oath  of 
office  on  the  Bible  of  St.  John’s  Lodge,  No.  1,  New 
York  City,  this  historical  Bible  was  borne  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  on  March  4,  1921,  by  the  Master 
of  St.  John’s  Lodge,  accompanied  by  Robert  H. 
Robinson,  Grand  Master  of  Masons  of  the  State 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  53 

of  New  York,  and  on  it  Brother  Harding  took  his 
oath  of  office  as  the  twenty-ninth  President  of  the 
United  States. 

There  has  not  been  a great  movement  for  civil 
and  religious  liberty  for  upwards  of  two  hundred 
years  that  has  not  had  behind  it  the  loyal  support 
of  the  Masonic  Fraternity. 

Sam  Houston,  who  led  the  gallant  armies  which 
threw  off  the  Mexican  yoke  and  won  the  inde- 
pendence of  Texas,  was  a Mason.  He  subsequently 
became  the  first  President  of  the  Republic  of  Texas. 
Texas  had  four  Presidents  before  she  applied  for 
admission  to  the  Union.  Her  last  President,  Anson 
Jones,  was  also  a Macon. 

Garibaldi  and  Massini,  Masons,  freed  their  be- 
loved Italy.  Portugal,  the  world’s  latest  republic, 
is  the  child  of  Masonry. 

The  Grand  Master  of  Cuba  was  executed  for 
the  offense  of  his  office,  and  an  entire  Lodge  in 
Havana  was  imprisoned  for  the  crime  of  perform- 
ing the  last  rites  at  the  grave  of  a departed  brother. 

The  timely  arrival  of  American  troops  in  Porto 
Rico  saved  an  entire  Lodge  of  San  Juan  from 
execution. 

God  grant  that  our  country  be  forever  free  of 
religious  persecution.  May  the  Masonic  Fraternity, 
founded  on  the  Fatherhood  of  God  and  the  brother- 
hood of  man,  and  whose  sole  aim  in  existing  is  to 
benefit  mankind,  continue  to  shed  its  beneficent 
influence  wider  and  wider  over  the  earth. 

As  Americans  we  stand  in  the  presence  and  feel 
the  power  of  our  Masonic  fathers.  Their  example 
is  the  promise  of  progress  and  the  maintenance  for- 
ever of  the  fundamental  principles  which  actuated 
them  in  establishing  a free  nation. 


54  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

Therefore,  brethren,  give  your  country  a true 
manhood!  Be  intense  Americans.  Solemnly  re- 
solve to  give  this  country  to  your  children  as  you 
received  it  from  your  fathers,  forever  free  and 
forever  American! 

Bear  in  mind  that  you  are  trustees,  guarding  as 
such  a sacred  heritage  and  treasure  which  is  yours 
to  enjoy  for  the  time  being  and  by  you  to  be  trans- 
mitted unsullied  and  unimpaired  to  posterity. 

Push  Americanism  to  the  front.  America  can 
serve  the  world  only  as  it  is  American. 

In  the  three  million  square  miles  of  our  territory, 
from  the  pine  forests  of  Maine  to  the  Golden  Gate, 
from  the  Lakes  on  the  North  to  the  Gulf  in  the 
South,  there  is  room  only  for  Americans.  Sub- 
ordinate every  thing  to  America.  Whether  native 
born  or  naturalized,  swear,  that  while  life’s  blood 
warms  your  throbbing  veins,  that  there  shall  be 
nothing  here  but  Americanism. 

Everything  foreign,  man,  school,  church,  must 
be  completely  absorbed  and  absolutely  assimilated 
by  republican  principles  and  American  purpose,  or 
else  shall  be  openly  cast  out  as  un-American  and  as 
treason  to  the  flag. 

There  must  not  be  the  least  taint  of  the  Danube, 
Rhine,  Thames  or  Tiber  in  the  distilled  water 
beneath  the  American  sky-dome. 

One  country  for  all — America,  for  man  in  his 
love  of  liberty,  for  man,  whosoever  he  is  and 
whencesoever  he  cometh;  one  standard  of  loyalty; 
one  school  system  supported  by  the  State  and  for- 
ever free  from  all  sectarian  control;  no  public 
money,  or  public  property  for  any  sectarian  pur- 
pose whatsoever;  the  absolute  separation  of  church 
and  state;  the  abandonment  of  every  pretension  to 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 


55 


special  privileges;  free  speech,  free  press  and  a free 
conscience;  the  ballot-box,  through  an  educational 
qualification,  made  sacred  as  the  ark  of  the  Ameri- 
can covenant;  one  type  of  citizenship;  one  national 
language;  one  flag,  Old  Glory,  one  sovereign  and 
that  sovereign  the  will  of  the  people,  exercised  ac- 
cording to  the  spirit  and  purpose  of  the  American 
Constitution ; and  to  crown  all,  the  election  to  public 
office  of  men  only  who  are  imbued  with  these 
fundamental  American  ideals. 

The  cornerstone  of  our  country  was  laid  and  its 
foundation  planted  by  our  fathers  through  long 
years  of  privation  and  war.  To  save  it  from  de- 
struction and  to  preserve  it  to  us,  rivers  of  blood 
have  been  poured  out  and  countless  millions  of  treas- 
ure spent.  And  for  the  sake  of  all  this  sacrifice, 
the  tears  and  blood,  the  widowhood  and  orphanage, 
promise  God  once  again  that  you  will  keep  America 
American. 

No  greater  appeal  can  be  offered,  in  closing,  than 
to  quote  the  last  message  to  the  American  people  of 
that  distinguished  citizen,  that  upright  man  and 
Mason : Brother  Theodore  Roosevelt.  This  mes- 
sage, written  the  day  before  he  died,  was  sent  to 
the  American  Defense  Society  to  be  read  in  open 
meeting. 

“I  cannot  be  with  you  and  so  all  I can  do  is  to 
wish  you  God-speed.  There  must  be  no  sagging 
back  in  the  fight  for  Americanism  merely  because 
the  war  is  over.  There  are  plenty  of  persons  who 
have  already  made  the  assertion  that  they  believe 
the  American  people  have  a short  memory  and  that 
they  intend  to  revive  all  the  foreign  associations 
which  most  directly  interfere  with  the  complete 
Americanization  of  our  people. 


56  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

“Our  principle  in  this  matter  should  be  absolutely 
simple.  In  the  first  place  we  should  insist  that  if 
the  immigrant  who  comes  here  in  good  faith  becomes 
an  American  and  assimilates  himself  to  us  he  shall 
be  treated  on  an  exact  equality  with  everyone  else, 
for  it  is  an  outrage  to  discriminate  against  any  such 
man  because  of  creed  or  birthplace  or  origin. 

“But  this  is  predicated  upon  the  man’s  becoming  in 
very  fact  an  American  and  nothing  but  an  Ameri- 
can. If  he  tries  to  keep  segregated  with  men  of 
his  own  origin  and  separated  from  the  rest  of 
America,  then  he  isn’t  doing  his  part  as  an  American. 

“There  can  be  no  divided  allegiance  here.  Any 
man  who  says  he  is  an  American  but  something 
else  also,  isn’t  an  American  at  all.  We  have  room 
for  but  one  flag,  the  American  flag,  and  this  ex- 
cludes the  red  flag,  which  symbolizes  all  wars 
against  liberty  and  civilization  just  as  much  as  it 
excludes  any  foreign  flag  of  a nation  to  which  we 
are  hostile. 

“We  have  room  for  but  one  language  here  and 
that  is  the  English  language,  for  we  intend  to  see 
that  the  crucible  turns  our  people  out  as  Americans, 
of  American  nationality  and  not  as  dwellers  in  a 
polyglot  boarding  house ; and  we  have  room  for  one 
soul  loyalty  and  that  is  a loyalty  to  the  American 
people.” 


A MASONIC  ANECDOTE  OF  THE 
REVOLUTIONARY  WAR 


From  time  to  time  many  cases  have  been  cited 
to  prove  that  the  signs  and  tokens  of  Free  Masonry, 
which  speak  a universal  language  and  act  as  a pass- 
port to  the  attention  and  support  of  the  initiated  in 
all  parts  of  the  world,  have  stayed  the  uplifted 
hand  of  the  destroyer,  softened  the  asperities  of 
tyrants,  broken  down  the  barriers  of  political  ani- 
mosity and  sectarian  prejudice.  The  most  noted 
instance  in  the  American  Revolution  where  the  Ma- 
sonic relation  afforded  relief  was  the  case  of  Israel 
Israels,  who  was  at  one  time  Grand  Master  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Israels  was  a Quaker,  though  his  name  is  de- 
cidedly Jewish.  During  the  Revolution  he  resided 
on  the  Delaware,  near  Wilmington.  With  his 
brother  he  had  determined  to  take  up  arms  for 
freedom.  But  it  was  decided  that  lots  be  cast  to 
determine  which  one  should  stay  at  home  to  protect 
the  women.  The  lot  of  a soldier  fell  to  the  younger 
brother,  Joseph. 

The  mother  with  her  family  had  moved  to  Phila- 
delphia, as  her  home  at  Newcastle,  Delaware,  was 
exposed  too  much  to  the  vicissitudes  of  war.  Dur- 
ing the  occupancy  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British,  the 
Israels  family  endured  severe  hardships  and  Israel 
watched  over  them  with  incessant  anxiety.  Know- 
ing that  his  mother  and  those  under  her  roof  were 
in  want  he  determined  to  reach  them.  One  of  his 
Tory  neighbors  procured  for  him  the  countersign 


58  MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA 

and  eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  sentinel,  he  made 
his  way  to  his  mother’s  house,  which  he  found  in 
possession  of  the  British  soldiers  who  had  quartered 
themselves  upon  the  family.  His  brother  was 
there,  too,  on  a secret  visit.  The  loyalist  who  had 
given  the  sign  betrayed  the  secret  of  Israels’  expedi- 
tion. He  and  his  brother  were  seized  and  carried 
on  board  the  frigate,  “Rosebuck,”  lying  in  the  Dela- 
ware, a few  miles  from  Wilmington,  opposite  his 
home,  there  to  be  tried  as  a spy. 

Being  one  of  the  “Committee  of  Safety”  Israels’ 
position  was  peculiarly  perilous.  His  fate  was  de- 
cided before  the  trial.  The  testimony  of  his  Tory 
neighbors  was  overwhelmingly  against  him.  Sev- 
eral were  ready  to  swear  that  while  the  loyal  popu- 
lation of  the  country  had  willingly  furnished  their 
share  of  provisions  needed  by  the  ships  of  war,  he 
had  been  heard  to  say  repeatedly  that  he  would 
“sooner  drive  his  cattle  as  a present  to  General 
Washington,  than  receive  thousands  of  dollars  in 
British  gold  for  them.” 

The  British  Commander  upon  receiving  this  in- 
formation ordered  a detachment  of  soldiers  to  go 
to  Israels’  meadows,  in  full  view  of  the  frigate 
and  seize  and  slaughter  his  cattle,  then  feeding  there. 
His  nineteen-year-old  wife  saw  her  husband  and 
brother  taken  to  the  frigate  and  watched  the  move- 
ments of  the  plunderers.  Guessing  their  purpose, 
she  made  for  the  meadows  in  hot  haste,  and  with  an 
eight-year-old  boy  began  to  drive  out  the  cattle. 
The  soldiers  threatened  to  shoot  her  if  she  did  not 
get  out.  The  heroic  woman  cried:  “Fire  away!” 
The  cowards  fired  several  shots,  not  one  hit  her. 
She  drove  her  cattle  to  safety  and  won  the  admira- 
tion of  the  men  for  her  heroic  daring. 


MASONS  AS  MAKERS  OF  AMERICA  59 

The  trial  of  her  husband  took  place.  Asked  by 
a sympathetic  soldier  if  he  was  a Free  Mason, 
Israels  so  declaring  himself,  was  informed  that 
the  officers  were  Masons  and  that  a Communica- 
tion was  to  be  held  on  board  the  vessel  that  night. 
He  made  a manly  defense  and  at  the  opportune  time 
gave  the  Masonic  sign  of  distress.  Not  only  did 
the  haughty  bearing  of  the  officers  change,  but  the 
Tory  witnesses  were  reprimanded  for  seeking  to 
injure  an  upright  man.  Presents  were  given  to  his 
heroic  Hannah,  while  he  and  his  brother  were  set 
at  liberty. 

But  for  the  talismanic  power  of  Masonry  in  all 
probability  both  brothers  would  have  been  shot.  It 
is  doubtful  whether  there  has  ever  been  devised  by 
man  a system  that  has  the  power  over  the  human 
mind  in  the  whole  range  of  its  passion  that  Masonry 
has  so  often,  so  instantaneously,  so  magically  and 
so  humanely  exerted. 

On  the  field  of  battle,  in  the  solitude  of  the  un- 
civilized forest,  in  the  busy  haunts  of  the  crowded 
city,  the  principles  of  Masonry  have  made  men  of 
the  most  hostile  feelings,  most  distant  relations  and 
most  diversified  convictions  rush  to  the  aid  of  one 
another. 


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